> so while everyone is absolutely correct that counting calories is the "optimal" method of weight loss, it's not the strategy that optimizes results across the population.
More accurately: a calorie deficit is not "optimal" for weight loss so much as it is a necessary and sufficient condition for achieving weight loss. The problems are that accurate calorie accounting is harder than merely reading nutrition labels, and calorie counting on its own does not provide guidance on which foods to reduce or replace in your diet to achieve weight loss while staying otherwise healthy and sated.
More accurately: a calorie deficit is not "optimal" for weight loss so much as it is a necessary and sufficient condition for achieving weight loss. The problems are that accurate calorie accounting is harder than merely reading nutrition labels, and calorie counting on its own does not provide guidance on which foods to reduce or replace in your diet to achieve weight loss while staying otherwise healthy and sated.