Fact or Myth -- 3,500 cals in 1lb of Fat

TommyKnocker

Hi All

This is something that I have seen hundreads of times in different articles regarding fat loss, but I only recently thought to query it when working on my daily calorie requirements.

As I have said I have read lots of articles which state that there are 3,500 calories in a lb of fat. And this is the weekly calorie deficit most regulary advised.

However I have also seen it stated that
1g of Protein = 4 cals
1g of Carbs = 4 cals
1g of Fat = 9 cals

So if 1g of fat = 9 cals, and there are 454g in a LB, then 454 x 9 = 4086 calories and not 3,500 as is widely published.

Is the 3,500 figure just a generalisation or there something that I am mising here


Best Regards,

M

ragg

AFAIR - the figure of 3,500 is what you need to burn above your metabolic base rate to lose a lb of fat.

Like everything else, its a finger in the air total, a guideline if you will.
Its not stone cold fact, in the same way that taking in 200 calories from cake and take in 200 calories from nuts, is not equal. In fact, all calories on food labels are an approximation.

Best not to overthink it IMO

corkcomp

B-Builder wrote: »

Hi All

This is something that I have seen hundreads of times in different articles regarding fat loss, but I only recently thought to query it when working on my daily calorie requirements.

As I have said I have read lots of articles which state that there are 3,500 calories in a lb of fat. And this is the weekly calorie deficit most regulary advised.

However I have also seen it stated that
1g of Protein = 4 cals
1g of Carbs = 4 cals
1g of Fat = 9 cals

So if 1g of fat = 9 cals, and there are 454g in a LB, then 454 x 9 = 4086 calories and not 3,500 as is widely published.

Is the 3,500 figure just a generalisation or there something that I am mising here


Best Regards,

M

3500 calories is the deficit required to lose 1 LB of fat, this is pretty accurate IMO but then again I am not one for over complicating things or getting too scientific - IMO all the time doing calculations and formulas would be better spent breaking a sweat.

the calorie content of 1g of dietary fat is a separate thing man ...

MrPain

A fat cell (adipose tissue) is approxiamatley 90% fatty acids and 10% water.
1 gram of fatty acids is equal to 9kcal.
So 1 gram of fat cells = 8.1kcal
So 8.1 x 454 = 3677kcal which is abit closer to 3500.
Note that the water percentage can very from cell to cell and person to person so the 3500 is an approximation.

:cool:Biochemistry ftw:cool:

TommyKnocker

Hi Mr Pain

Thank you very much for your concise answer. It is much appreciated.

Makes perfect sense when explained in that way.

Long live Biochemists


Best Regards,

M

mink_man

myth imo