This is the slogan of many diet programs and fads that promote a variety of medications, herbs, or whatever else they can market. It is, after all, the panacea of dieters. Unfortunately, all too often we discover the latest fad is just another hoax.
Many people think of obesity as an excess of total body weight.
But more precisely, obesity is excess body weight as fat. The answer lies in the Energy Balance Equation, which sets forth the basic principle that Energy In must equal Energy Out. Energy In, or calories consumed, is easy to quantify, but difficult to regulate. In most developed countries, the abundance of food allows the individual to regulate total calories consumed. Consumption is therefore determined by food preferences rather than food availability.