
New York, NY—August 3, 2017—A new study from Cornell University researchers reveals that the average person eats about 7,500 calories a day and that they are able to effectively maintain this caloric intake by eating a variety of foods.
The study found that people who ate more vegetables, fruits and whole grains were able to maintain their caloric intake and maintain their weight, despite eating an unhealthy amount of meat.
The research also revealed that people eating less animal protein were able maintain their healthy weight even though they were consuming less calories.
“We found that the person who eats the most calories is the one who is able to lose weight,” said senior author Dr. Robert P. Mathers, a professor of nutrition and behavioral sciences in the College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources.
“They can actually lose weight because they can eat more food and they’re actually able to keep their weight down.”
The study was published in the Journal of the American Dietetic Association.
Dr. Marni M. O’Connor, a postdoctoral research associate in Dr. O. M. P. Hart’s lab, led the study.
“This is one of the most comprehensive studies to date on how people manage their calorie intake and weight loss,” said Dr. Piers Forster, senior research associate and a co-author on the paper.
“It’s the first study to show a direct relationship between eating more calories and weight gain and it’s one of our most important pieces of research on how to manage caloric intake in a healthy manner.”
The researchers surveyed 6,500 people who were between the ages of 18 and 80, who answered questions about their food choices and weight management habits.
They found that nearly two-thirds of people who consumed more than one meal per day had gained weight.
“A lot of people think that eating more food means you’re eating more meat, or that eating meat is good for you,” Dr. Forster said.
“But in reality, it’s the opposite.
We’re actually eating more vegetables and fruits.
We eat more whole grains and we’re actually losing weight.
That’s the difference.”
The survey also found that women who consumed a large portion of red meat and other foods were able a significant amount of weight loss, although the men who consumed less meat or processed foods did not.
This is consistent with previous research showing that women gain weight in response to the addition of animal products to their diet, but this study shows that it’s not just men.
Women also lose weight if they increase their intake of protein and reduce their intake, Dr. Hart said.
The researchers also looked at a different aspect of the human body: the gut microbiome.
People who consumed the most carbohydrates had the most changes in their gut, with changes that are indicative of a metabolic disorder called insulin resistance.
“When you’re trying to control your calorie intake, you want to minimize the effects of your diet on the gut, but it’s a complicated problem,” Dr Matherz said.
This study was also a collaboration between Cornell University and Cornell Medicine.
Dr Marno M. Hart is a professor in the School of Public Health at Cornell University.
He is also the director of the Cornell Food and Nutrition Research Center and director of Cornell Human Nutrition.