Originally Posted by
OngBonga
Of course, that's why calories are not the best measure of metabolic energy. Because our body doesn't set fire to gummy bears, it dissolves them and breaks them down. Furthermore, we then shit out what we don't break down. So, we're wasting some of that calorie value. And, of course, different people will retain and waste different amounts, from different types of foods. I might retain 90% of a gummy bears' calories, but only 80% of a slice of toast. Any number of medical or genetical conditions can change those numbers.
That's why I took issue with wuf when he said something like "then she either eats more or is less active"... because even I realise it's really not that simple.