<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8" standalone="yes"?><oembed><version><![CDATA[1.0]]></version><provider_name><![CDATA[The Dish]]></provider_name><provider_url><![CDATA[http://dish.andrewsullivan.com]]></provider_url><author_name><![CDATA[Andrew Sullivan]]></author_name><author_url><![CDATA[https://dish.andrewsullivan.com/author/sullydish/]]></author_url><title><![CDATA[How Much Harm Could 20 Calories&nbsp;Cause?]]></title><type><![CDATA[link]]></type><html><![CDATA[
<p><span style="font-size: 8pt;"><em>by Zack Beauchamp</em></span></p>
<p>A lot, <a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/ezra-klein/post/how-20-calories-make-a-big-public-health-impact/2011/08/26/gIQAOZR4fJ_blog.html?wprss=ezra-klein" target="_self">says</a> Sarah Kliff (reviewing <a href="http://www.thelancet.com/series/obesity" target="_self">this</a> Lancet study):</p>
<blockquote>
<p>The Lancet  researchers gamed out what would happen if the average  weight in the  United States decreased by about 1 percent, which works  out to an  average weight loss of 2.2 pounds per person. We would avoid up to  2.4 million cases of diabetes. We would see up  to 1.7 fewer cases of  cardiovascular disease. As a population, we’d add  16 million more “quality life years,” a scientific measurement of both  lifespan and quality of life.  How do we get there?</p>
</blockquote>
<p>20 calories a day less, apparently. On the other hand, Kevin Outterson <a href="http://theincidentaleconomist.com/wordpress/losing-weight-wont-solve-the-health-care-cost-crisis/" target="_self">reads</a> the same Lancet research and concludes that &quot;very significant reductions in US caloric intake will save 0.6% of health care costs by 2020.&quot;</p>
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