It's true that bare thermodynamics is not great practical lifestyle advice, but it's also true that a lot of people really, truly, do not know the basics of what calories are and what they mean for weight.

I agree that no one should use thermodynamics as an excuse to be judgmental or dismissive toward people who are having trouble managing their weight.

But I also think that when people directly ask about calories (as the GP zoul did), it's worth being clear and unambiguous about the basic science.