The fitness enthusiast’s voice against calorie counting, backed by an expert

We’re often told to watch what we eat, but Maddi Cerasuolo refuses to take that advice too literally. In a TikTok video, he explains why he “hates” calorie counting, a popular method for weight loss.

The 24-year-old, who shares wellness and fitness content under the username @madswellness, tracked her food intake for seven years before noticing the negative effects.

“At first it gave me a sense of control, but over time it became overwhelming and led to unhealthy habits,” she said. Newsweek. “I started focusing on the numbers instead of listening to my body, which ended up making my relationship with food more complicated and stressful.”

People often count calories as a method of weight loss, which involves calculating their energy needs based on factors such as height, weight and activity level and then determining their daily calorie intake based on their needs.

Cerasuolo, who lives in Toronto, says during the video that he couldn’t imagine weighing and tracking his food, and passionately explains why he despises it. One of the main reasons was the feeling of “guilt” when he consumed more calories than planned.

He spoke Newsweek: “Counting calories can be a tool for some, but I believe it’s important for people to focus on a sustainable and balanced approach to health.”

He continued, “I think it’s a short-term solution and a method, and it can only be effective for a certain amount of time before it starts to negatively affect you or even just put you on a plateau. I think a lifestyle that you can easily maintain without obsessing and with a poor relationship with food, this is much more of a long-term goal that more people should strive for.

Today, he eats intuitively, meaning he only eats when he’s hungry and finishes when he’s full. No food is off-limits, and he rejects negative feelings after a treat.

While counting calories has been shown to help with weight loss, it also has a downside. In 2021, a group of researchers from the School of Psychology at Deakin University in Australia conducted a study that looked at the growing use of calorie tracking apps and their possible link to eating disorder symptoms.

Data from 1,357 adults showed that 71 percent had used a calorie tracking app and 39 percent were current users. Participants who used apps for weight control or body shaping were more likely to report symptoms such as food cravings, anxiety, and purging compared to those who used apps for health or disease prevention.

What did the expert say?

Newsweek discussed Cerasuolo’s video, which has more than 37,000 views, with Francesca Lyon, lead nutritionist at Future Woman, a provider of personalized health plans based on hormone testing.

Lyon, who lives in Amsterdam, said: “It can help with short-term weight loss. It’s not effective for lasting results or overall hormone and mental health. Why? Because weight loss isn’t just about burning calories in and out. It’s much more complex, involving your metabolism, hormone levels , inflammation, thyroid function and nutrient balance.”

She said women who rely on this method often gain back the weight they lost — sometimes even more.

“This is due to the reduced metabolic rate and muscle mass that occurs with calorie restriction, leading to the classic yo-yo dieting pattern,” Lyon said. Newsweek. “Women are particularly prone to enter an energy-depleted state when they restrict calories. Their bodies adapt to less food intake, slowing their metabolism and reducing their ability to conserve energy, which makes weight loss even more difficult in the long term.”

Instead, he recommends counting nutrients rather than calories. “A diet rich in essential nutrients supports energy, sleep, metabolism, weight and hormone health, helping you achieve your optimal weight naturally.”

Lyon shared the following advantages and disadvantages of food tracking.

The pros of counting calories

• Helps to become more aware of portion sizes.
• Can be effective for short-term weight loss, especially if quick results are needed for health reasons.

Cons of counting calories

• Does not prioritize nutritional value, leading to nutrient deficiencies and hormone imbalances.
• This often leads to undereating, which can lead to health problems such as missed periods, low hormone levels, and fertility problems.
• Can lead to an unhealthy obsession with food, affecting mental health.

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