Losing weight in the pursuit of the ‘ perfect body ’ can lead to drastic lifestyle changes .
The first serious concern in counting calories resides in the potential to develop a harmful obsessiveness . What may start as a general indicator of consumption can gradually become a daunting number that we fear to see increasing throughout the day . Contingent on the individual , this fear can then lead to mental instability , especially when the focus stems on striving for that fantasized body . Finally , the inevitable obsession . When obsession consumes the mind , rationalizations are made for certain eating disorders . Thoughts of anorexia and bulimia gradually become more appealing . Taking such extreme actions compels a person to emphasize their focus on appearance over health , which results in adverse physical , emotional , and mental effects . Many of the initial reasons of dieting , such as ameliorating stress and building self-esteem , are worsened through obsessive calorie counting .
The second major issue in calorie-counting dwells in compromising food quality .
‘ A calorie is not a
calorie ’. Depending on one ’ s perspective , this statement can have completely different interpretations .
Yes , it is true that one calorie contains 4184 Joules of energy , sure . But when considering the physiological effects on the body , the simplicity of that definition becomes lost . Conditional on choice , different foods go through various biochemical pathways that can have distinct beneficial or adverse outcomes . Compromising food quality for the purpose of looking ‘ slimmer and sexier ’ can ( and probably will ) have more negative than positive effects on the body . Helpful nutritious elements in food are typically neglected when solely focusing on calories . A strong emphasis should be placed on nutritious value in foods and its direct relationship with health .
Issue 3 | Nutrition of Everything | 14