People are exposed to a constant stream of advice on the best way to lose excess fat and maintain a healthy weight. Unfortunately, much of this advice is contradictory. What strategies are generally agreed to be beneficial? Which are more controversial, and what are the areas of disagreement?

Question

What will be an ideal response?

Answer 1

General agreement: Exercise is good, burning calories and lowering set point. Fiber is good, providing bulk and possibly speeding food through before it is completely digested. Too much sugar is bad, providing empty calories, leaving you hungry shortly after having eaten it. Sugar can also be turned into body fat. Argued about: High protein: Some say this provides a diet that is more satisfying and less likely to leave you hungry shortly after having eaten. Others say too much protein is hard on the kidneys. Fat: Some people point out that fat is an extremely concentrated source of calories and more easily directly converted to body fat. Others point out that people need essential fatty acids (from vegetable oils) and fat soluble vitamins, and that fat is not digested as rapidly and therefore less likely to leave you hungry shortly after a meal. Similar arguments center on complex carbohydrates, which can also be converted rapidly into glucose and stored as fat.