Vince
Super Moderator
https://intensivedietarymanagement.com/obesity-solving-the-two-compartment-problem/
One of the major mistakes made by the Calories In/ Calories Out (CICO) hypothesis is the presumption that energy is stored in the body as a single compartment. They consider that all foods can be reduced to their caloric equivalent and then stored in a single compartment in the body (Calories In). The body then uses this energy for basal metabolism and exercise (Calories Out).
This model looks something like this:
All energy is stored in that one compartment. However, this model is a complete fabrication. It does not exist. This known mis-understanding has led to general acceptance of the CICO theorem. According to this model, by reducing the amount of calories going in, or increasing the amount going out, you may reduce the amount of body energy stored as fat.
Of course, this Eat Less, Move More (or Caloric Reduction as Primary) strategy has a known success rate of about 1% or a failure rate of roughly 99%. This does not deter any of the medical or nutritional authorities to question the sagacity of their advice, though.
To better understand how energy is stored in the body, it is more accurate to use a two compartment model. Dr. Kieron Rooney’s diagram demonstrates that the body is able to derive energy from 3 sources – glucose (carbs), fat or protein. However, protein is not stored as an energy source and is only used when there is excessive dietary protein after which it is turned to glucose.
So, this leaves two potential fuel sources – glucose and fat – and these are stored in different compartments. Glucose is stored in the liver as glycogen – a molecule that is composed of long chains of sugars. This is easily accessible to the body, but there is a limited amount that is able to be stored. After that threshold is reached, the body stores fat. Think of glycogen like a refrigerator. It is very easy to move food in and out of the fridge, but the storage space is limited.
One of the major mistakes made by the Calories In/ Calories Out (CICO) hypothesis is the presumption that energy is stored in the body as a single compartment. They consider that all foods can be reduced to their caloric equivalent and then stored in a single compartment in the body (Calories In). The body then uses this energy for basal metabolism and exercise (Calories Out).
This model looks something like this:
All energy is stored in that one compartment. However, this model is a complete fabrication. It does not exist. This known mis-understanding has led to general acceptance of the CICO theorem. According to this model, by reducing the amount of calories going in, or increasing the amount going out, you may reduce the amount of body energy stored as fat.
Of course, this Eat Less, Move More (or Caloric Reduction as Primary) strategy has a known success rate of about 1% or a failure rate of roughly 99%. This does not deter any of the medical or nutritional authorities to question the sagacity of their advice, though.
To better understand how energy is stored in the body, it is more accurate to use a two compartment model. Dr. Kieron Rooney’s diagram demonstrates that the body is able to derive energy from 3 sources – glucose (carbs), fat or protein. However, protein is not stored as an energy source and is only used when there is excessive dietary protein after which it is turned to glucose.
So, this leaves two potential fuel sources – glucose and fat – and these are stored in different compartments. Glucose is stored in the liver as glycogen – a molecule that is composed of long chains of sugars. This is easily accessible to the body, but there is a limited amount that is able to be stored. After that threshold is reached, the body stores fat. Think of glycogen like a refrigerator. It is very easy to move food in and out of the fridge, but the storage space is limited.
