A Cambridge obesity researcher upends everything we thought we knew about calories and calorie-counting.Calorie information is ubiquitous. On packaged food, restaurant menus, and online recipes we see authoritative numbers that tell us the calorie count of what we're about to consume. ...

Why should you never count calories?

In general, calorie counting is not the best approach to weight control. When you rely solely on counting calories, you never learn to listen to your body's hunger and satiety signals, which can be a powerful tool in helping to keep off unwanted pounds.

Why do people say counting calories doesn't work?

“Calorie counting essentially requires you to disconnect from your body's cues of hunger and cravings that are natural and healthy,” says Breese Annable, a psychologist who specializes in disordered eating, chronic dieting, and body image. “You have to override those cues to 'follow the plan.