Calorie counting is the belief that the amount of calories (energy) consumed is the main driver of weight change. People who succumb to the calorie counting myth suggest that weight gain is simply a result of a positive energy balance, and that weight loss is achieved by eating fewer calories, or burning the calories in the form of exercise. However, hundreds of scientific papers disagree with this notion, as factors such as the quality and type of the food are far more important determinants of weight change when compared to total energy expenditure. For example, in one study researchers investigated how the ratio of fat to carbohydrates in the diet affect weight gain in humans. The results showed that as the intake of carbohydrate increased relative to fat, there was an increased risk of gaining body fat. This weight gain was independent of the amount of total energy consumed. Therefore the macronutrient ratios may be a more important determinant of weight gain when compared to total energy intake.
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