Calorie density: What it is, effect on weight and health, and more

Calorie density describes the number of calories in a given volume or weight of food.

Understanding how it works can help you lose weight and improve your diet.

What’s more, focusing on low-calorie-density foods allows you to eat a large volume of food while still cutting back on calories.

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This can have many health benefits, including increased nutrient intake and weight loss.

This article explains everything you need to know about calorie density.

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What is calorie density?

Calorie density measures the calorie content of food relative to its weight or volume.

It is also called energy density and is usually measured as calories per 3.5 ounces (100 grams) of food.

Choosing foods with a low-calorie density can help with weight loss. It makes you automatically eat fewer calories while still eating large and filling portions.

An easier way to make sense of this is to imagine a full plate of food. The fewer calories the plate contains, the lower the calorie density of the meal.

A vegetable with 30 calories per 100 grams has a low-calorie density, while chocolate with 550 calories per 100 grams has a very high-calorie density.

Although calorie density may be less known than other weight management concepts like calorie counting, choosing foods based on this measure may be more straightforward and effective.

For example, basing your diet on low-calorie-density foods limits you to predominantly healthy and nutrient-rich whole foods.

It can quickly clean up your diet, eliminating most calorie-dense, processed foods that are generally unhealthy and easy to overeat.

Summary: “Calorie density” refers to the number of calories per weight or volume of food. It’s a very simple, effective method to improve your diet.

How does calorie density affect weight?

Eating too many calories is a critical factor in weight gain.

Several studies have shown that individuals who consume low-calorie-density diets also eat fewer calories daily. This is linked to lower body weight, body mass index (BMI), and waist circumference.

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Accordingly, studies reveal that those whose diets comprise mainly high-calorie-density foods have an increased risk of weight gain and obesity.

Calorie density also affects hunger.

Low-calorie-density foods tend to provide less fat and more water and fiber. This is great for making you feel full and reducing your daily calorie intake.

In contrast, many calorie-dense foods are highly processed and extremely palatable, making them easy to overeat.

Research indicates that whole foods tell your brain to stop eating, while this effect is delayed when you eat highly processed foods.

In one study, participants ate 56% more calories when provided a high-energy-density meal than a low-energy-density one.

Another study compared calorie intake for high- and low-calorie-density meals matched for palatability and macronutrients.

People ate an average of 425 more calories when given the calorie-dense meal than when given the low-calorie-density one.

Summary: Research has linked people’s intake of high-calorie-density foods to weight gain and obesity. Those who eat more low-calorie-density foods tend to eat fewer calories and have lower body weight.

A low-calorie-density diet helps you lose weight

A low-calorie-dense diet may aid weight loss.

It focuses on whole foods and limits your intake of processed foods, naturally increasing your intake of protein, vegetables, and fruit.

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All these foods have been shown to aid weight loss by reducing total calorie intake per meal or day.

A low-calorie-density diet can lessen hunger since your stomach senses the volume of food you have consumed in a meal.

A low-calorie-density meal also fills your plate. This helps your meal last longer and forces you to chew more, increasing your feelings of fullness.

In one study, participants lost an average of 17 pounds (7.7 kg) after they switched their high-calorie-density fats to low-calorie-density fruits and vegetables for 1 year.

Finally, an observational study found that adults who consumed lower-calorie-dense diets had significantly lower waist circumference and BMI measurements after five years.

Summary: Research has shown that a low-calorie-density diet can be a great method to lose weight and improve your general eating habits.

A low-calorie-density diet may improve health

A low-calorie-density diet forces you to overhaul your eating pattern and make many positive changes.

All of these changes benefit your long-term health, including:

Less processed food. Your intake of processed, unhealthy food is reduced.
More healthy food. You will eat more low-calorie, highly nutritious foods.
More lean proteins. Quality protein may aid weight loss and has several other benefits.
More nutrients. A low-calorie-density diet encourages you to consume more micronutrient- and antioxidant-rich fruits and vegetables.
Reduced calorie intake. Reducing your calorie intake and losing weight is one of the best ways to improve your health if you’re overweight.
A well-balanced, sustainable diet. This way of eating teaches you to focus on healthier, low-calorie foods while not forcing you to totally eliminate other foods or occasional treats.

Summary: Along with helping you lose weight, a low-calorie-density diet is linked to many other aspects of a healthy lifestyle.

Foods that have a low-calorie density

Most natural foods have a very low-calorie density. These include:

Vegetables. Most green vegetables have the lowest calorie density of all foods because they’re primarily made up of water, fiber, and a very small number of carbs.
Meat and fish. Lean proteins like chicken, white fish, and turkey have a low-calorie density, yet fattier meats and fish have a moderate to high density.
Fruits. These have a low-calorie density because of their high fiber and water content. Berries and other watery fruits tend to have the lowest density.
Milk and yogurt. Reduced-fat milk and yogurts with no added sugar also have a low-calorie density and provide a good source of protein.
Eggs. Whole eggs are a protein-packed superfood with a moderate calorie density, especially when combined with vegetables.
Starchy carbs. Some natural starchy carbs like potatoes, legumes, and other root vegetables have low-calorie density. This is especially true once cooked, as they fill with water.
Sugar-free drinks. These beverages, such as water, coffee, and tea, have a low-calorie density and can help keep you full.

There is no reason to eliminate high-fat foods completely. Just keep your intake moderate. Many healthy high-fat foods, such as nuts, avocados, and olive oil, may contribute to weight gain if you eat too many.

Summary: Most unprocessed and natural foods have a low-calorie density. This is particularly true of vegetables, fruits, lean meats, fish, and eggs.

High-calorie-density foods to limit

If you want to try this approach and base your food selection on calorie density, you will need to limit your intake of foods with high-calorie density, including:

Candy and chips. Candy and chips are high in sugar and fat, making them very calorie-dense and easy to overeat.
Pastries and cakes. Like candy, pastries and cakes are very calorie-dense and easy to overeat.
Fast foods. These are some of the most calorie-dense foods available. Studies show that a fast food meal packs around twice the calories of a regular, healthy meal.
Oils. While certain oils, such as coconut and olive oil, are healthy, they still have a very high-calorie density. Consume healthy oils in moderation.
High-fat dairy. Foods like butter, cream, and cheese have very high-calorie densities. Consume them in moderation.
Fatty meats. Some fatty meats have a very high-calorie density. These include bacon, sausages, lamb, and fatty beef cuts.
Nuts. Like other healthy fat sources, nuts are very calorie-dense. While they do have many health benefits, they’re easy to overeat. Try measuring out your portions before you eat them.
High-fat condiments. Some sauces and condiments, such as mayonnaise, pesto, and ranch dressing, are very high in calories and should mostly be avoided.
Sugary drinks. Some smoothies and full-fat milkshakes are high in calories and should be avoided as much as possible.

Summary: If you are trying to lose weight, limit your intake of foods with a high-calorie density. Some naturally high-fat foods are healthy and can be consumed in small quantities.

Summary

Out of the many diets, an eating plan based on foods with a low-calorie density is probably one of the most sensible and practical. It’s also easy to understand and implement.