But the issue doesn't have anything to do with crappy calories or good calories. There is really no Onjective viewpoint since everyone has different terms for clean and dirty. Furthermore I'm still waiting for an explanation of how said "crappy" calorie gets processed any differently by the body with all othe factors being equal??? It's the amount of the calories not the sources that are important to body comp. if you want health and longetevity (who doesn't really) than yes micros are important too but how is chicken and broccoli for 8 meals a day any better or worse than a Pizza Hut pizza to use OP's example? You're still only getting the nutrients in chicken and broccoli and kissng out on a ton of other nutrients. You cannot classify a diet based on its constituent factors. You need to evaluate the diet as a whole and the sum of all its parts. There are so many reasons why ppl have trouble shaving off fat and it has absolutely the least to do with where you get your calories. Ppl underestimate food intake, especially candys/typical junk food etc, ppl underestimate their activity levels, ppl don't measure out correct portions, they sit at home and watch tv after work, they take the elevator to go up one flight instead of the stairs, they take the car to drive the kid to the bus stop at the end of the driveway etc! You think those factors don't play a larger role in why people today are fatter than they were in previous generations?