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New data presented at the Society for the Study of Ingestive Behavior annual meeting indicates that dieters may be able to control their food consumption by manipulating their minds.
The study found that test subjects felt “fuller” and more satisfied after eating portions that seemed larger than they were. For example, in one experiment, participants were provided with a list of smoothie ingredients. 1/2 were shown pictures small fruit portions, while the others were shown images of larger fruit portion. Participants were then asked to rate their hunger before and after smoothie consumption. Participants who viewed the larger fruit portion reported feeling satiated for longer, though both groups consumed the same actual smoothie size and ingredient ratio.
According to study author Dr. Jeff Brunstrom of the UK’s University of Bristol, the study may also translate into food labels and packaging techniques. “Labels on ‘light’ and ‘diet’ foods might lead us to think we will not be satisfied by such foods, possibly leading us to eat more afterwards,” added Dr. Brunstrom. “One way to militate against this … might be to emphasize the satiating properties of a food using labels such as ’satisfying’ or ‘hunger relieving’.”
And while labeling foods as “satisfying” or “hunger relieving” may sound good to those attempting to lose weight, chances are it will be harder to get food manufacturers on-board when “light” and “lowfat” labels are driving sales. So, what mind tricks can you try on your own brain? Weight loss experts suggest abandoning large plates for smaller ones, so it looks and feels like you’re eating more than you are. In addition, try setting a timer after you eat. It takes 20 minutes to feel satiated after a meal, so it’s important to wait before returning for seconds. After 20 minutes, you may decide you’re full after all! While you’re waiting on the timer, put away the leftovers. If you have to hassle with getting everything out again, you may avoid seconds and opt for a simple piece of fruit, instead.
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It’s no secret that adolescents–both middle school and high school age–sacrifice sleep for studying and socializing. However, researchers are now discovering that this lack of proper sleep may be playing a role in teen weight gain–especially among males.
The study, conducted by scientists at the Center for Child Health, Behavior and Development at Seattle Children’s Research Institute, sampled over 700 teens. Findings indicated that the less sleep teen boys get, the more likely they are to be obese. The study also indicated that the sleep/weight gain relationship is even stronger for middle-school students than for high-school students.
Why is sleep so important? More research is needed, but scientists believe that lack of sleep leads to more environmental stress–which impacts the body’s metabolic system. When the metabolic system is out of order, weight gain can occur more easily. Researchers also hypothesize that young women manage environmental stress better, overall, so they’re less impacted by the sleep factor.
“We know that our kids need to brush their teeth and wear their seatbelts and be more active,” said study researcher Leslie Lytle. “I think research on sleep is now also showing that sleep is an incredibly important health behavior that has many implications beyond just being tired.”
For more information on the teen sleep/obesity connection, visit LiveScience.com.
We all know that weight loss isn’t easy, and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is warning consumers against a gimmick designed to “inject” the fat away. Lipodissolve (also called lipolysis, lipozap and liptherapy), is an injection intended to permanently remove pockets of fat from the body.
Offered by medical spas around the country, lipodissolve is composed of drugs like phosphatidylcholine (PC) and deolycholate (DC), along with variations of herbal extracts and vitamins/minerals. According to the FDA, the medical spas offering these procedures are making “false and misleading claims” to consumers, since the product ingredients have not been proven effective in the dissolution of fat from the body. In addition, they have not been proven safe.
“We are concerned that these companies are misleading consumers,” said Janet Woodcock, M.D., director of the FDA’s Center for Drug Evaluation and Research. “It is important for anyone who is considering this voluntary procedure to understand that the products used to perform lipodissolve procedures are not approved by FDA for fat removal.”
Some patients have also reported side effects after undergoing lipodissolve injections–ranging from skin scarring to painful, subcutaneous knots. Participating medical spas have received warning letters from the FDA (as of Apr. 7, 2010) for making false and misleading statements about their lipodissolve services/products, and consumers are urged to avoid these unproven procedures. You can find out the full story at the Consumer Affairs website.
Unlike “quick fixes” like lipodissolve, bariatric surgery is an FDA-approved way to lose weight. Barker Bariatric can help you determine the procedure that’s best for your body when you call 1-888-OneDrBarker today to schedule your comprehensive consultation.
While empty calories and sugar overages can definitely lead to unhealthy weight gain, there are new reasons to back off on the sweet stuff. Recent U.S. studies by Emory University School of Medicine and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) found that people who consume excessive amounts of sucrose and high-fructose corn syrup, which are often found in processed foods, sodas and other beverages, may be at a higher risk for future heart disease.
The study, reported in the April 21 online issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA), is one of the only contemporary research projects that examines the links between added sweeteners and lipid measures–such as high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) and triglycerides.
“Just like eating a high-fat diet can increase your levels of triglycerides and high cholesterol, eating sugar can also affect those same lipids,” said study co-author Dr Miriam Vos, assistant professor of pediatrics at the Emory School of Medicine.
While the jury is still out on what the “healthy limit” is for added sugar consumption, Vos and her colleagues urge consumers to be good label readers. This means watching for phrases like “added sugar” on the products you purchase, and selecting items with fewer grams of sugar in the ingredient list. According to Vos, those concerned about their long-term health should always be looking for ways to cut out added sugars–just to be on the safe side.
Read more about the study here.
Ever feel like you’re compelled to indulge in unhealthy foods–even if your brain tells you it’s unwise? A new study in the journal, Nature Neuroscience, indicates what many consumers feared was true: junk food may actually be addictive. The participating researchers fed one group of rats a healthy diet with limited junk food options, while the other rat group received unlimited access to high-fat, high-sugar, high-preservative foods like bacon, cake and candy bars. After establishing the diets, researchers observed that the healthy rats were self-limiting in their junk food consumption, while the junk-food group seemed unable to stop eating the unhealthy fare–even when they encountered an electric foot shock. In addition, they refused to eat anything for more than two weeks when the junk food was not offered.
In addition to the food trials, researchers compared the junk-food rat responses to those of drug-addicted rats, and the two groups elicited similar compulsive consumption behaviors. While these results cannot be translated directly to humans, they give researchers insight into the physiology and psychology of food addiction.
JA Corsica and ML Pelchat, from Rush University Medical Center in Chicago, have also conducted food addiction studies. These scientists say that food addiction theories come from altered neurochemistry (dopamine and endogenous opiods), neuroanatamy (limbic system) and self-medication behaviors.
READ MORE ABOUT THE STUDY HERE.
If getting your kids to eat their fruits and vegetables is a constant chore, visit HealthVideo.com to discover a new way to ensure that your kids get their greens. They may even surprise you by asking for more!
