Small Changes In Eating Prompts Weight Loss

Main Category: Obesity / Weight Loss / Fitness
Also Included In: Nutrition / Diet
Article Date: 31 Dec 2012 - 0:00 PST Current ratings for:
Small Changes In Eating Prompts Weight Loss

Making small easy changes to our eating habits on a consistent basis - 25 days or more per month - can lead to sustainable weight loss, according to research by Professor Brian Wansink in Cornell University's Food and Brand Lab. The challenge is to figure out which changes work for specific individuals and how to stick with changes long enough to make them second nature.

To explore this issue, Cornell researchers launched the National Mindless Eating Challenge (NMEC), an online healthy eating and weight loss program that focused on simple eating behavior changes, instead of dieting.

NMEC participants, after answering questions about their eating goals, background and well-being, were sent three customized tips to follow for a month. All tips were founded on research and based on Wansink's book "Mindless Eating: Why We Eat More than We Think" (Bantam, 2006). Participants could download a checklist to track their adherence to tips and receive email reminders to keep them on track. At the end of each month they were expected to send in a follow-up survey. Of the 504 participants who completed at least one follow-up survey, more than two thirds (42 percent) either lost weight or maintained their weight (27 percent).

Weight loss was highest among people who made changes consistently.

Those whose adherence was 25 or more days per month reported an average monthly weight loss of 2 pounds, and those who stayed in the program at least three months and completed at least two follow-up surveys lost on average 1 percent of their initial weight.

According to the study, which is published in the peer-reviewed Journal of Medical Internet Research (Nov-Dec., Vol. 14:6), common barriers that prevented people from making changes included personally unsuitable tips, forgetting, being too busy, unusual circumstances such as vacations and emotional eating.

"These results confirm that small, consistent changes in our daily eating behavior can result in gradual weight loss and in developing healthier eating habits," said Wansink, a marketing professor in Cornell's Dyson School of Applied Economics and Management. Results of the study also show that it is a challenge for many people to stick to a program for a long period of time. For those who want to lose weight or eat more healthfully, the researchers conclude that finding an initial set of tips that are relevant and doable for an individual can be enough to learn the general principle.

"Later come up with your own changes and succeed at reaching your goal," Wansink said.

The NMEC participants said that the most effective tips they received were:

Keep counters clear of all foods but the healthy ones.
Never eat directly from a package - always portion food out onto a dish.
Eat something hot for breakfast within the first hour of waking up.
Avoid going more than thee or four hours without having something small to eat.
Put down your utensils between bites to slow down your eating.

Article adapted by Medical News Today from original press release. Click 'references' tab above for source.
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Aerobic Exercise Trumps Resistance Training for Weight and Fat Loss

Main Category: Obesity / Weight Loss / Fitness
Article Date: 20 Dec 2012 - 1:00 PST Current ratings for:
Aerobic Exercise Trumps Resistance Training for Weight and Fat Loss

Aerobic training is the best mode of exercise for burning fat, according to Duke researchers who compared aerobic training, resistance training, and a combination of the two.

The study, which appears in the Journal of Applied Physiology, is the largest randomized trial to analyze changes in body composition from the three modes of exercise in overweight or obese adults without diabetes.

Aerobic exercise - including walking, running, and swimming - has been proven to be an effective way to lose weight. However, recent guidelines have suggested that resistance training, which includes weight lifting to build and maintain muscle mass, may also help with weight loss by increasing a person's resting metabolic rate. Research has demonstrated health benefits for resistance training, such as improving glucose control, but studies on the effects of resistance training on fat mass have been inconclusive.

"Given that approximately two-thirds of adults in the United States are overweight due to excess body fat, we want to offer clear, evidence-based exercise recommendations that will truly help people lose weight and body fat," said Leslie H. Willis, MS, an exercise physiologist at Duke Medicine and the study's lead author.

Researchers enrolled 234 overweight or obese adults in the study. Participants were randomly assigned to one of three exercise training groups: resistance training (three days per week of weight lifting, three sets per day, 8-12 repetitions per set), aerobic training (approximately 12 miles per week), or aerobic plus resistance training (three days a week, three set per day, 8-12 repetitions per set for resistance training, plus approximately 12 miles per week of aerobic exercise).

The exercise sessions were supervised in order to accurately measure adherence among participants. Data from 119 people who completed the study and had complete body composition data were analyzed to determine the effectiveness of each exercise regimen.

The groups assigned to aerobic training and aerobic plus resistance training lost more weight than those who did just resistance training. The resistance training group actually gained weight due to an increase in lean body mass.

Aerobic exercise was also a more efficient method of exercise for losing body fat. The aerobic exercise group spent an average of 133 minutes a week training and lost weight, while the resistance training group spent approximately 180 minutes exercising a week without shedding pounds.

The combination exercise group, while requiring double the time commitment, provided a mixed result. The regimen helped participants lose weight and fat mass, but did not significantly reduce body mass nor fat mass over aerobic training alone. This group did notice the largest decrease in waist circumference, which may be attributed to the amount of time participants spent exercising.

Resting metabolic rate, which determines how many calories are burned while at rest, was not directly measured in this study. While theories suggest that resistance training can improve resting metabolic rates and therefore aid in weight loss, in this study, resistance training did not significantly decrease fat mass nor body weight irrespective of any change in resting metabolic rate that might have occurred.

"No one type of exercise will be best for every health benefit," Willis added. "However, it might be time to reconsider the conventional wisdom that resistance training alone can induce changes in body mass or fat mass due to an increase in metabolism, as our study found no change."

Duke researchers added that exercise recommendations are age-specific. For older adults experiencing muscle atrophy, studies have found resistance training to be beneficial. However, younger, healthy adults or those looking to lose weight would see better results doing aerobic training.

"Balancing time commitments against health benefits, our study suggests that aerobic exercise is the best option for reducing fat mass and body mass," said Cris A. Slentz, PhD, a Duke exercise physiologist and study co-author. "It's not that resistance training isn't good for you; it's just not very good at burning fat."

Article adapted by Medical News Today from original press release. Click 'references' tab above for source.
Visit our obesity / weight loss / fitness section for the latest news on this subject. In addition to Willis and Slentz, Duke study authors include Lori A. Bateman, Lucy W. Piner, Connie W. Bales, and William E. Kraus. East Carolina University study authors include A. Tamlyn Shields and Joseph A. Houmard.
The study was funded with a grant from the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, National Institutes of Health (2R01-HL057354).

Effects of aerobic and/or resistance training on body mass and fat mass in overweight or obese adults, Leslie H. Willis, Cris A. Slentz, Lori A. Bateman, A. Tamlyn Shields, Lucy W. Piner, Connie W. Bales, Joseph A. Houmard, and William E. Kraus, Journal of Applied Physiology December 15, 2012 vol. 113 no. 12 1831-1837, doi: 10.?1152/?japplphysiol.?01370.?2011

Duke University Medical Center

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posted by Jenny Hutchings on 20 Dec 2012 at 7:07 am

This article was written by the Duke University Medical Center, i'm afraid you will need to contact them for their reasoning in including swimming.

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posted by Dr. J on 20 Dec 2012 at 6:12 am

I believe the Duke study did not include swimming. In my opinion, swimming does not give the same aerobic results in most cases and this article should not make this assumption.

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Understanding Pancreas Weight May Help Unlock Cause Of Type 1 Diabetes

Main Category: Diabetes
Article Date: 15 Dec 2012 - 0:00 PST Current ratings for:
Understanding Pancreas Weight May Help Unlock Cause Of Type 1 Diabetes

People at risk for Type 1 diabetes may have fewer insulin-producing "beta" cells than people not at risk, a finding that could help researchers shed light on what causes the disease, a new University of Florida study shows.

The study, which will be published Wednesday (Dec. 12) in the Journal of the American Medical Association, revealed that people at risk for Type 1 diabetes had smaller pancreases than people who were not at risk.

"This is the first time this has been noted," said Martha Campbell-Thompson, D.V.M., Ph.D., a professor in the UF College of Medicine department of pathology, immunology and laboratory medicine. "We still don't know what causes Type 1 diabetes, but if people have fewer beta cells to begin with, other confounding factors such as a virus or genetics could help push them over into having clinical diabetes. There are a lot of possibilities."

Type 1 diabetes occurs when the body's immune system begins attacking its own beta cells in the pancreas, which are responsible for producing insulin the body needs to convert sugar into energy. The beta cells stop producing insulin, often beginning in childhood. Because of this, patients must take insulin for the rest of their lives. This differs from the more common Type 2 diabetes, which often can be prevented and treated through lifestyle changes, such as improved diet and increased exercise.

Although genetics plays a big role, researchers still don't know what triggers this autoimmune attack, and after it begins, there is no going back, said Campbell-Thompson, director of the pathology core for the Network for Pancreatic Organ Donors with Diabetes, or nPOD, a human pancreas biorepository housed within the UF Diabetes Center of Excellence.

In the current study, Campbell-Thompson and colleagues at the City of Hope National Medical Center examined 164 pancreases from adult organ donors, including those with auto-antibodies linked to an increased risk for Type 1 diabetes. After examining the organs and comparing them with control samples, the researchers discovered that the people at risk for Type 1 diabetes had pancreases roughly three-fourths the weight of those of patients not at risk for the disease. In addition, patients already diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes had pancreases about half the weight of control samples, Campbell-Thompson said.

"Had they not become organ donors, these people might have eventually developed Type 1 diabetes, so we were trying to carefully characterize their pancreases and their insulin-producing cells to see what was going on. A simple part of that was just weighing the pancreas when we got it," she said. "As we got more and more of these donors, a trend started showing up that these pancreases weighed less. They weighed lower than normal controls."

The ultimate goal of the research, and nPOD, which provides pancreas samples to researchers across the country, is to first understand how the pancreas works and then uncover new and better ways to not only treat Type 1 diabetes, but also to prevent it.

"Thanks to nPOD's valuable and rapidly growing collection of pancreas samples and other tissues, its team of researchers was able to examine, for the first time, the pancreas weight of those at risk for developing Type 1 diabetes," said Teodora Staeva, Ph.D., program director for immune therapies at JDRF, the leading foundation focused on advancing Type 1 diabetes research, which funded the study. "The findings raise significant questions about the development and progression of Type 1 diabetes."

Obtaining and analyzing human pancreas samples has proved crucial for researchers because mouse models used to uncover new treatments for Type 1 diabetes are no longer considered good examples of the disease in humans.

"There are major differences between human Type 1 diabetes and the animal models," Campbell-Thompson said. "It's really changing some of our ideas about when this autoimmune attack might occur, and we still don't know all the players."

The researchers now hope to take the study a step further by using noninvasive methods such as magnetic resonance imaging, or MRI, to gauge pancreas size in live patients.

"This could really change some of the ideas we have about Type 1 diabetes," Campbell-Thompson said. "By understanding how it develops we can think of new ways to treat it."

Article adapted by Medical News Today from original press release. Click 'references' tab above for source.
Visit our diabetes section for the latest news on this subject. Source: UF&Shands, The University of Florida Academic Health Center Please use one of the following formats to cite this article in your essay, paper or report:

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posted by Ali on 21 Dec 2012 at 2:32 pm

I am worried about my son because he got diabetic 4years ago. he is 12 years old. please help to us family because we are at desperation.

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posted by Dr Mohammed ali on 20 Dec 2012 at 9:40 am

sir is it not possible to cure diabetes with stemcell therapy

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Food In Smaller Pieces May Help Control Weight

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Main Category: Obesity / Weight Loss / Fitness
Also Included In: Nutrition / Diet;  Psychology / Psychiatry
Article Date: 12 Jul 2012 - 0:00 PDT Current ratings for:
Food In Smaller Pieces May Help Control Weight

Cutting up food into smaller pieces may help people control their weight more easily because they are more satisfying to eat than one large piece with the same number of calories, according to a new study presented at a conference this week.

The 2012 meeting of the Society for the Study of Ingestive Behavior, which runs from 10 to 14 July in Zurich, Switzerland, heard how the researchers concluded that humans, like animals, seem to find eating food as smaller pieces more enjoyable and satisfying.

In a press release issued on Tuesday, lead author Devina Wadhera, from the Department of Psychology at Arizona State University in the US, suggests:

"Cutting up energy-dense meal foods into smaller pieces may be beneficial to dieters who wish to make their meal more satiating while also maintaining portion control."

Previous studies have already suggested that larger portions lead people to eat more. For this study, Wadhera and colleagues focused on the number and size of food pieces, because it is also known that humans and other animals judge food quantity using several cues, of which number is one, with larger numbers usually taken to mean larger amounts.

For instance, in 1989, a team of researchers ran a series of intriguing experiments with rats in mazes. In the first experiment they trained rats in a T-maze using 4 x 75 mg food pellets in one arm of the T, and a single 300 mg pellet in the other arm.

The rats developed a preference for the 4 x 75 mg arm, and when the researchers reversed the arms, the rats also switched their preference. This indicated, when faced with the same weight of food, the rats preferred the four-pellet alternative to the single pellet one.

In a slightly different version of the experiment, the researchers put 4 x 45 mg pellets in one arm and a single 300 mg pellet in the other. But this time the rats showed a preference for the 300 mg arm, indicating they were choosing weight over number of pieces. This was confirmed in a third experiment, when the choice was either 4 x 45 mg, or 4 x 75 mg pellets.

The researchers in that study concluded that rats prefer multiple to single food units, and judge a given weight of food as greater when the number of units is greater. They proposed that this apparent "failure of conservation" may be common to other species, including humans.

So to test the idea in humans, Wadhera and colleagues invited 301 college students to take part in an experiment where they gave each an 82 g bagel, either uncut or cut into four.

Twenty minutes after eating the bagel, the students were invited to eat as much as they wanted from a measured amount of food at a free lunch (the test meal).

Any left over bagel or test meal was then measured to assess what each student had eaten.

The results showed that the students who ate the single, uncut bagel, ate more calories from both the bagel and the test meal, than their fellow counterparts who were given the bagel as four pieces.

Wadhera said this showed that eating food cut into several pieces may be more satiating than eating it as a single, uncut portion.

The idea of manipulating perception to fool the body about food, was also taken up in another study reported in February 2012, where researchers from the Netherlands found that manipulating the aroma of food caused people to take smaller bites, resulting in up to 10% reduction in intake per bite. They suggested aroma control combined with portion control could fool the body into thinking it was full with a smaller amount of food.

Written by Catharine Paddock PhD
Copyright: Medical News Today
Not to be reproduced without permission of Medical News Today

Visit our obesity / weight loss / fitness section for the latest news on this subject. EJ Capaldi and others (1989); "Multiple-food-unit-incentive effect: Nonconservation of weight of food reward by rats" Journal of Experimental Psychology: Animal Behavior Processes.
Additional source: Society for the Study of Ingestive Behavior.
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posted by Joanne on 11 Jul 2012 at 5:47 am

Truly a fascinating study and outcome. I wonder, though, if this same approach would work when the subject knows the purpose. In other words, while I probably won't tell my family why I am serving things in pieces rather than whole, I still know the "why" for my own dinner and I wonder if, like eating from a smaller plate, etc., knowing the intent potentially changes the outcome.

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Can Artificial Sweeteners Aid Weight Loss? Yes, But Don't Compensate!

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Academic Journal
Main Category: Nutrition / Diet
Also Included In: Obesity / Weight Loss / Fitness;  Diabetes;  Cardiovascular / Cardiology
Article Date: 10 Jul 2012 - 11:00 PDT Current ratings for:
Can Artificial Sweeteners Aid Weight Loss? Yes, But Don't Compensate!

Artificial sweeteners, also known as non-nutritive sweeteners, may help people reach their body weight goal, and also maintain a healthy body weight, researchers reported in two journals, Circulation and Diabetes Care. However, users have to make sure they do not "compensate" by eating high-calorie foods. An example of "compensating" might be ordering a diet coke and also a large slice of chocolate cake.

Non-nutritive sweeteners are also known as low-calorie sweeteners, artificial sweeteners, non-caloric sweetners, and intense sweeteners.

The American Diabetes Association stated that for diabetes patients, using artificial sweeteners on their own or in foods and drinks may help aid glucose control if "used appropriately".

In a new scientific statement issued by the American Diabetes Association and the American Heart Association, replacing added sugars in drinks and other foods with non-nutritive sweeteners can, if used appropriately, help people lose weight and keep it off.

However, according to the article in Circulation, there is limited compelling scientific evidence that using artificial sweeteners is effective in the long-term for reducing calorie intake and consuming fewer added sugars.

The American Heart Association (AHA) states that a high dietary sugar intake is a contributory factor for obesity, cardiovascular disease, and developing type 2 diabetes. Added sugar consumption should not exceed 100 calories per day for women and 150 calories for men, if the consumer does not wish to increase the risk of the diseases and conditions mentioned above, the AHA adds.

Experts say "Do not compensate" - Do not have a diet drink together with a high-calorie meal

Another problem with sugary foods and drinks is that they displace nutritious food consumption, which may not only lead to weight gain, but also some level of malnutrition - i.e. the person may not be consuming the right balance of vitamins, minerals, fiber and proteins for good health.

Christopher Gardner, Ph.D., associate professor of medicine at Stanford University in California, said:

"While they are not magic bullets, smart use of non-nutritive sweeteners could help you reduce added sugars in your diet, therefore lowering the number of calories you eat. Reducing calories could help you attain and maintain a healthy body weight, and thereby lower your risk of heart disease and diabetes. But there are caveats."

Examples of non-nutritive sweeteners quoted by the authors include: aspartameacesulfame-Kneotamesaccharinsucraloseplant-derived steviaThe authors explained that to date, studies on whether artificial sweeteners used to displace calorie-rich sweeteners, such as added sugars, may result in a reduction in carbohydrate consumption (desirable for diabetes control), calorie consumption, body weight control are inconclusive. Studies are also inconclusive regarding artificial sweeteners' long-term impact on appetite, and the reduction of other risk factors linked to heart disease and diabetes.

Dr. Garner said:

"Determining the potential benefits from non-nutritive sweeteners is complicated and depends on where foods or drinks containing them fit within the context of everything you eat during the day.

For example, if you choose a beverage sweetened with non-nutritive sweeteners instead of a 150-calorie soft drink, but then reward yourself with a 300-calorie slice of cake or cookies later in the day, non-nutritive sweeteners are not going to help you control your weight because you added more calories to your day than you subtracted.

However, if you substitute the beverage with non-nutritive sweeteners for a 150-calorie sugar-sweetened soft drink, and don't compensate with additional calories, that substitution could help you manage your weight because you would be eating fewer calories. "

For people with diabetes, soft drinks with artificial sweeteners do not raise blood glucose levels, and can therefore provide patients with a "sweet option", says the American Diabetes Association. However, people need to select carefully; just because something says it has artificial sweeteners instead of sugar does not necessarily mean it is a "free" food or a healthy one.

Diane Reader, R.D., CDE, manager of professional training at the International Diabetes Center in Minneapolis, Minn., said:

"The use of non-nutritive sweeteners may be used in a carbohydrate-controlled food plan, to potentially reduce carbohydrate intake which may aid in weight management and diabetes control."

The American Heart Association and the American Diabetes Association both stressed that their new statement on artificial sweeteners does not evaluate the safety of such ingredients; this is done by the FDA (Food and Drug Administration).

Garner said:

"For anyone trying to monitor or reduce their intake of calories or added sugars, the potential impact of choosing 'diet products' with non-nutritive sweeteners needs to be considered within the context of the overall diet. Strategies for reducing calories and added sugars also involves choosing foods which have no added sugars or non-nutritive sweeteners - such as vegetables, fruits, high-fiber whole grains, and non or low-fat dairy."

The authors believe that well-designed human studies that address the specific, practical, public health issues related to artificial sweeteners are needed.

Written by Christian Nordqvist
Copyright: Medical News Today
Not to be reproduced without permission of Medical News Today

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posted by Millie on 11 Jul 2012 at 4:02 am

While I appreciate all of the information shared in Medical News Today, I have found that the recommendations and recipes from the American Diabetes Association are too high in carbohydrates for those with insulin resistant Type II diabetes. Diet sodas with phosphoric acid and unsafe chemical sugar substitutes are unhealthy. Do many wonder why they only drink diet sodas but never lose weight?

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Can Artificial Sweeteners Aid Weight Loss? Yes, But Don't Compensate!

Editor's Choice
Academic Journal
Main Category: Nutrition / Diet
Also Included In: Obesity / Weight Loss / Fitness;  Diabetes;  Cardiovascular / Cardiology
Article Date: 10 Jul 2012 - 11:00 PDT Current ratings for:
Can Artificial Sweeteners Aid Weight Loss? Yes, But Don't Compensate!

Artificial sweeteners, also known as non-nutritive sweeteners, may help people reach their body weight goal, and also maintain a healthy body weight, researchers reported in two journals, Circulation and Diabetes Care. However, users have to make sure they do not "compensate" by eating high-calorie foods. An example of "compensating" might be ordering a diet coke and also a large slice of chocolate cake.

Non-nutritive sweeteners are also known as low-calorie sweeteners, artificial sweeteners, non-caloric sweetners, and intense sweeteners.

The American Diabetes Association stated that for diabetes patients, using artificial sweeteners on their own or in foods and drinks may help aid glucose control if "used appropriately".

In a new scientific statement issued by the American Diabetes Association and the American Heart Association, replacing added sugars in drinks and other foods with non-nutritive sweeteners can, if used appropriately, help people lose weight and keep it off.

However, according to the article in Circulation, there is limited compelling scientific evidence that using artificial sweeteners is effective in the long-term for reducing calorie intake and consuming fewer added sugars.

The American Heart Association (AHA) states that a high dietary sugar intake is a contributory factor for obesity, cardiovascular disease, and developing type 2 diabetes. Added sugar consumption should not exceed 100 calories per day for women and 150 calories for men, if the consumer does not wish to increase the risk of the diseases and conditions mentioned above, the AHA adds.

Experts say "Do not compensate" - Do not have a diet drink together with a high-calorie meal

Another problem with sugary foods and drinks is that they displace nutritious food consumption, which may not only lead to weight gain, but also some level of malnutrition - i.e. the person may not be consuming the right balance of vitamins, minerals, fiber and proteins for good health.

Christopher Gardner, Ph.D., associate professor of medicine at Stanford University in California, said:

"While they are not magic bullets, smart use of non-nutritive sweeteners could help you reduce added sugars in your diet, therefore lowering the number of calories you eat. Reducing calories could help you attain and maintain a healthy body weight, and thereby lower your risk of heart disease and diabetes. But there are caveats."

Examples of non-nutritive sweeteners quoted by the authors include: aspartameacesulfame-Kneotamesaccharinsucraloseplant-derived steviaThe authors explained that to date, studies on whether artificial sweeteners used to displace calorie-rich sweeteners, such as added sugars, may result in a reduction in carbohydrate consumption (desirable for diabetes control), calorie consumption, body weight control are inconclusive. Studies are also inconclusive regarding artificial sweeteners' long-term impact on appetite, and the reduction of other risk factors linked to heart disease and diabetes.

Dr. Garner said:

"Determining the potential benefits from non-nutritive sweeteners is complicated and depends on where foods or drinks containing them fit within the context of everything you eat during the day.

For example, if you choose a beverage sweetened with non-nutritive sweeteners instead of a 150-calorie soft drink, but then reward yourself with a 300-calorie slice of cake or cookies later in the day, non-nutritive sweeteners are not going to help you control your weight because you added more calories to your day than you subtracted.

However, if you substitute the beverage with non-nutritive sweeteners for a 150-calorie sugar-sweetened soft drink, and don't compensate with additional calories, that substitution could help you manage your weight because you would be eating fewer calories. "

For people with diabetes, soft drinks with artificial sweeteners do not raise blood glucose levels, and can therefore provide patients with a "sweet option", says the American Diabetes Association. However, people need to select carefully; just because something says it has artificial sweeteners instead of sugar does not necessarily mean it is a "free" food or a healthy one.

Diane Reader, R.D., CDE, manager of professional training at the International Diabetes Center in Minneapolis, Minn., said:

"The use of non-nutritive sweeteners may be used in a carbohydrate-controlled food plan, to potentially reduce carbohydrate intake which may aid in weight management and diabetes control."

The American Heart Association and the American Diabetes Association both stressed that their new statement on artificial sweeteners does not evaluate the safety of such ingredients; this is done by the FDA (Food and Drug Administration).

Garner said:

"For anyone trying to monitor or reduce their intake of calories or added sugars, the potential impact of choosing 'diet products' with non-nutritive sweeteners needs to be considered within the context of the overall diet. Strategies for reducing calories and added sugars also involves choosing foods which have no added sugars or non-nutritive sweeteners - such as vegetables, fruits, high-fiber whole grains, and non or low-fat dairy."

The authors believe that well-designed human studies that address the specific, practical, public health issues related to artificial sweeteners are needed.

Written by Christian Nordqvist
Copyright: Medical News Today
Not to be reproduced without permission of Medical News Today

Visit our nutrition / diet section for the latest news on this subject. Please use one of the following formats to cite this article in your essay, paper or report:

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Christian Nordqvist. "Can Artificial Sweeteners Aid Weight Loss? Yes, But Don't Compensate!." Medical News Today. MediLexicon, Intl., 10 Jul. 2012. Web.
16 Jul. 2012. APA

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posted by Millie on 11 Jul 2012 at 4:02 am

While I appreciate all of the information shared in Medical News Today, I have found that the recommendations and recipes from the American Diabetes Association are too high in carbohydrates for those with insulin resistant Type II diabetes. Diet sodas with phosphoric acid and unsafe chemical sugar substitutes are unhealthy. Do many wonder why they only drink diet sodas but never lose weight?

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'Can Artificial Sweeteners Aid Weight Loss? Yes, But Don't Compensate!'

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Even After Weight Loss, Female Fat Prejudice Persists

Main Category: Obesity / Weight Loss / Fitness
Also Included In: Women's Health / Gynecology;  Psychology / Psychiatry
Article Date: 30 May 2012 - 1:00 PDT Current ratings for:
'Even After Weight Loss, Female Fat Prejudice Persists'

Overweight women may never escape the painful stigma of obesity - even after they have shed the pounds, new research suggests.

The study, by the University of Hawaii at Manoa, The University of Manchester, and Monash University, examined whether anti-fat prejudice against women persisted even after they had lost significant weight and were now thin.

The researchers asked young men and women to read vignettes describing a woman who had either lost weight (70 pounds/32 kilograms) or had remained weight stable, and who was either currently obese or currently thin. Participants were then asked their opinions about this woman on a number of attributes, such as how attractive they found her, and their overall dislike for fat people.

The team found that participants in the study - published in the journal Obesity - expressed greater bias against obese people after reading about women who had lost weight than after reading about women who had remained weight stable, regardless of whether the weight-stable woman was thin or obese.

"We were surprised to find that currently thin women were viewed differently depending on their weight history," said Dr Janet Latner, study lead at the University of Hawaii at Manoa, US. "Those who had been obese in the past were perceived as less attractive than those who had always been thin, despite having identical height and weight."

One of the more disturbing findings from the study, the researchers noted, was that negative attitudes towards obese people increase when participants are falsely told that body weight is easily controllable.

Co-author, Dr Kerry O'Brien, from the University of Manchester's School of Psychological Sciences and Monash University in Melbourne, Australia, said: "The message we often hear from society is that weight is highly controllable, but the best science in the obesity field at the moment suggests that one's physiology and genetics, as well as the food environment, are the really big players in one's weight status and weight-loss.

"Weight status actually appears rather uncontrollable, regardless of one's willpower, knowledge, and dedication. Yet many people who are perceived as 'fat' are struggling in vain to lose weight in order to escape this painful social stigma. We need to rethink our approaches to, and views of, weight and obesity."

The findings, say the authors, demonstrate that residual obesity stigma persists against individuals who have ever been obese, even when they have lost substantial amounts of weight. Obesity stigma is so powerful and enduring that it appears to even outlast the obesity itself.

Dr Latner added: "Descriptions of weight loss, such as those often promoted on television, may significantly worsen obesity stigma. Believing that obese people can easily lose weight may make individuals blame and dislike obese people more.

"The findings demonstrate that residual obesity stigma persists against individuals who have ever been obese, even when they have lost substantial amounts of weight. Obesity stigma is so powerful and enduring that it may even outlast the obesity itself. Given the great number of people who may be negatively affected by this prejudice, obesity discrimination clearly needs to be reduced on a societal level."

Article adapted by Medical News Today from original press release. Click 'references' tab above for source.
Visit our obesity / weight loss / fitness section for the latest news on this subject. The paper: ''Residual Obesity Stigma: An Experimental Investigation of Bias against Obese and Lean Targets Differing in Weight-Loss History'
University of Manchester Please use one of the following formats to cite this article in your essay, paper or report:

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University of Manchester. "Even After Weight Loss, Female Fat Prejudice Persists." Medical News Today. MediLexicon, Intl., 30 May. 2012. Web.
7 Jun. 2012. APA

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'Even After Weight Loss, Female Fat Prejudice Persists'

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Weight Loss: A Fabulous Side Effect of Ganoderma

Many folk assert that they have lost unwanted pounds due to their use of Ganoderma Lucidum (also known as Reishi).

However, in a lot of ways "the jury is still out" on the direct effect of Ganoderma on the weight management claim. But science does back up a link between Ganoderma and weight loss, though not directly.

Ganoderma Lucidum is a red mushroom with a 4000 year history of use in Asia. Recent technological developments have finally allowed the mass cultivation of Ganoderma Lucidum. Consequently, it is starting to be used in the West. Scientific studies of its astounding health claims are now underway.

Those scientific studies indicate that the assertions of weight reduction and Ganoderma are more a by-product of Ganoderma great ability to improve one's health. An especially superb Ganoderma side-effect.

Below are four factors of Ganoderma which improve your chances of weight reduction.

1) Ganoderma is known to enhance your rate of metabolism. As your metabolic rate increases, your body uses more energy to digest food more effectively. To deliver this increased need for energy your body uses up more calories and your fat deposits in your body. This, clearly, can result in weight management.

2) Ganoderma also contains polysaccharides which is a potent component that serves as a detoxing agent and reinforces your body's capability to heal as well as improves your digestion. All these factors can cause weight loss.

3) Ganoderma Lucidum is very good at controlling your hormonal balance. If your hormones are misaligned, due to hypothyroidism or some other condition, then your weight will increase. Using Ganoderma may very well put your hormones back into balance leading you to shed any weight you gained in consequence of your hormone disequilibrium.

4) Ganoderma also improves blood flow. Improved blood flow may help to remove excess water in your body and accordingly any weight gain you have that is due to water retention.

Hence though Ganoderma doesn't appear to cause weight management directly, the effect is even better: weight management and improved health!

Of course, if you are perfectly healthy with no imbalances, then most likely you will not lose any weight with Ganoderma. Of course, if you use Ganoderma, it may keep your body healthy and in-balance; and consequently, keep you from gaining weight in the future.

Of course, use caution when using Ganoderma, as with any other alternative health cures and weight reduction programs. You should see your doctor before using - particularly if you're taking other medicines.

To learn more about Ganoderma, I advise you to visit a great site where you can both learn some fascinating facts about Ganoderma health benefits, and you can review Organic Ganoderma products.

Perhaps Ganoderma can improve your health with a wonderful side effect of weight loss.

Ted Williams is in search of a healthy life and likes to write about what he has discovered. Please comment if you have had experiences with Ganoderma and weight loss or improved health.