Campus Life

Health Shorts: Calories, diets are never fair

Weight loss is simply a matter of taking in fewer calories than used. For every 3,500 calorie deficit, a person should theoretically lose one pound of body weight. But wait...if the person is already very thin, it's possible to lose a pound with a lower deficit such as 3,300 or 3,400 calories.

Slow and steady is probably the best and safest way to lose weight. Unfortunately, after a person has been losing weight for a while, their body adjusts by lowering their metabolism, making it harder to lose weight.

[SOURCE: "Calories: burning questions," UC Berkeley Wellness Letter, January, 2009]
 

Last Updated March 19, 2009

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