International Olive Council

The website of the International Olive Council

Tools icon

IOC NEWS

Home / Blog / A calorie is not a calorie

A calorie is not a calorie

MADRID / 04.08.2021
Extra virgin olive oil is an increasingly surprising product. See IOC's latest news from OHIS. Olive oil and health, in collaboration with the University of Navarra.

The specific metabolic contribution of consuming different energy-yielding macronutrients (namely, carbohydrates, protein and lipids) to obesity is a current topic of debate. A recent review summarizes the existing evidence concerning associations between the intake of different macronutrients with weight gain and adiposity. Overall, current evidence suggests that energy surplus is the main driver of overweight and obesity. On the contrary, the question of refined sugars and some fats playing complementary roles in weight gain and whether calories from different macronutrients count as equal still remain very controversial. In this regard, dietary patterns particularly rich in sources of monounsaturated fats, such as extra virgin olive oil in the Mediterranean diet, have been inversely associated with BMI. This highlights the importance of the fat profile and not just the total amount of fat or differences attributed to genetic background.

Reference: San-Cristobal R, Navas-Carretero S, Martínez-González MÁ, Ordovas JM, Martínez JA. Contribution of macronutrients to obesity: implications for precision nutrition. Nat Rev Endocrinol. [published online ahead of print].
For Further information please visit the following link: https://meddietolivehealth.com/news-by-topic/
Last Posts
The Svalbard Global Seed Vault receives olive seeds for the first time

A historic milestone in the conservation of olive genetic diversity, made possible thanks to the collaboration of various organisations and research centres. The International Olive Council (IOC) took part in the first-ever...

Info
Madrid Salud enjoys an olive oil tasting session
MADRID, SPAIN / 26.02.2026

On 25 February 2026, the International Olive Council (IOC) organised an olive oil tasting session at its headquarters in Madrid for 26 officials from Madrid Salud, the public body responsible for health promotion and...

Info
The olive seeds’ journey to Svalbard is postponed
Norway / 24.02.2026

We wish to inform you that the deposit of olive seeds in the Svalbard Global Seed Vault will not take place on 25 February as initially planned. Due to adverse weather conditions, the international delegation responsible for...

Info