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If we ever get this information in a usable form, my guess is it won't come for another ten to fifty years, especially because there's some compelling research that suggests that there are unique individual differences, so knowing the "average" calorie burn for apple vs. applesauce wouldn't necessarily help you know what the difference is for your body.Originally Posted by freelancemomma
Thanks for the info, Kaplods. You always put things very clearly. The only thing I'm left to wonder about is: How significant are the differences in "work of digestion" among different foods? Say we're talking about an apple vs. applesauce. Does an apple take 5 extra calories to digest? 10? 20? I would love to have this type of information.F.
A major weakness of most weight loss studies, is that they rely on the subjects being honest about their food intake. This is problematic, because there is great social pressure to lie (even to oneself) about actual intake.
The truth is we don't really know nearly as much about metabolism as we think we do, because the variables are so difficult to control - while allowing subjects to live a reasonably normal life.
As a result, I tend to put more faith in the animal studies - because the results of the study do not depend on the rats being honest about their activity level, calorie intake, or compliance with the food plan.