Synopsis

Source of validity: Scientific
Rating (out of 5): 5

Calories are a fundamental aspect of nutrition and are scientifically validated as essential for supporting and treating wasting, a condition characterized by unintended weight loss and muscle depletion often due to chronic illness, malnutrition, or inadequate dietary intake. Numerous clinical guidelines and studies strongly support the provision of adequate caloric intake as a cornerstone in the management of wasting. Increasing caloric intake helps restore energy balance, supports weight gain, preserves lean body mass, and improves overall patient outcomes.

Scientific literature, including randomized controlled trials and meta-analyses, has demonstrated that nutritional interventions with sufficient caloric provision—often combined with protein supplementation—result in measurable improvements in body weight, muscle mass, functional status, and even survival in patients with wasting syndromes such as HIV/AIDS, cancer cachexia, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). For example, guidelines from the World Health Organization (WHO) and the European Society for Clinical Nutrition and Metabolism (ESPEN) recommend caloric supplementation as a first-line approach for treating wasting in both adults and children.

There is also a well-established physiological rationale: when the body is in a calorie deficit, it catabolizes fat and muscle to meet energy needs, worsening wasting. Therefore, adequate caloric intake is not only justified but necessary for reversing or attenuating the progression of wasting. In summary, the use of calories to support or treat wasting is grounded in strong scientific evidence and is a universally accepted clinical practice.

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