PROBLEMS with CICO Diet (Calories In, Calories Out) | Registered Dietitian
/One diet that's getting a lot of attention right now is the Calories In, Calories Out diet, abbreviated CICO. The CICO really isn't anything new. Counting calories as a way to lose weight is a diet that has been around for a long time. For whatever reason though, this type of dieting is becoming popular again in the form of CICO. Calories In, Calories Out is a weight loss diet that is based on the idea that if you eat fewer calories than you body uses for energy throughout the day, your body will then have to go into fat stores to get the energy it needs, resulting in weight loss. The CICO diet is appealing to a lot of people because the rules are simple to understand and it doesn't outright restrict the types of foods you can eat, unlike some other diets. However, the basic premise that Calories In, Calories Out is based on is flawed and counting calories can actually have a negative impact on your physical healthy and mental health. On top of that, weight and health aren't the same thing so if you're trying to lose weight because you want to be healthier that's something you need to rethink.