Nine – as in the number of calories, or energy, per gram of fat. This is a significant tidbit of nutritional knowledge for anyone interested in gaining or losing weight.
Many theories abound about why the body gains weight (genetic predisposition, hormone imbalances, etc.) but one of the most basic and commonly accepted theories is of an energy balance. In this theory, weight is in balance, or stable, when the energy in (calories eaten) equals the energy out (calories used by the body to function.) Weight loss happens when more calories are used than are eaten. When more calories are eaten than are used by the body, weight gain occurs. It occurs because our ever thrifty body doesn’t like to waste anything so it stores the excess calories in the form of fat.
Carbohydrate, protein, fat, and alcohol all provide calories. Carbohydrate and protein provide four calories per gram and alcohol provides seven calories per gram. Fat, the big daddy of them all, provides the most amount of energy with nine calories per gram. Thus, fat and fatty foods provide more calories when compared to other foods that don’t contain fat.
Bottom line – Those looking to gain weight should add some healthy fats to their diet to tip the energy balance towards gaining weight. Those looking to lose weight have two choices – increase the calories used in the day by adding activity and exercise OR decrease the amount of calories eaten in the day, starting with any excessive calorie-rich fats.