Why see overweight people makes us more, not less food (time.com)

Viewers of the biggest loser would probably agree that the weight loss show it nourishes with inspiration. The obese participants fight makes us motivated to eat better, exercise and lose weight. Turns out, this premise is only half right - at least according to a study that finds that people are actually more to see overweight can eat.

"See, someone, the overweight to a temporary decrease in a person takes his obligation or their health goal felt," wrote the authors study Margaret C. Campbell and Gina S. Mohr of the University of Colorado at Boulder (the by the way the most active city in the United States).

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But why? It has to do with the stereotype "Activation", says the study. If people attached are exposed to members of the groups that have, good or bad - stereotypes like fat people eat much, or Asians are good at math - they will likely act in a manner that corresponds to this stereotype. "For example," write the authors, "college students on general knowledge after exposure with Professor increases results questions, but reduced after exposure to a model." This is true, also, and even if the stereotypical behaviour is negative, if it goes against the person, the own values.

This theory is in line with a phenomenon that recent studies the "contagion effect" of obesity, which suggests have determined that people who fat have friends tend to gain weight. Political scientist at University of California, San Diego reported time on the ground-breaking study in 2007 by Dr. Nicholas Christakis, Professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School, and James Fowler,:

according to their analysis, if a study of participant's friend became obese, the first participant had 57% chance getting obese even. Pairs of people in which everyone identified the other as a friend when a person is overweight, the other 171% had likely following suit. "You are, what you eat is not the end of the story," says Fowler. "You are what you and your friends food."...

The obvious question is, why? Spouse sharing meals and a backyard, but the researchers found much smaller risk of weight gain - an increase of 37% - if one spouse was obese. Siblings sharing genes, but its influence also much smaller, each of other risk increased 40%. Fowler believes the effect has a lot to do more with social norms: who we are, if appropriate social behavior into account. With fat friends makes bold seem more acceptable. "Their spouse may not, that which you are to look decide the person, what kind of body image is installed, how much to eat or how much exercise," says Fowler. Nor do we necessarily compare us to our brothers and sisters. "We can choose our friends" says. "We understand you our to choose families."

(By the way, works the contagion effect also with weight loss, stop smoking, and happiness, Christakis and Fowler found.)

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The current study suggests, another reason for the effect - activation of social stereotypes versus confirmation of social standards - which means that you need not close social network people overweight on your behaviour affect. Even a glance of an unknown overweight person - that happens more than you probably find, bearing in mind that 67% of the US population meet the clinical definition of overweight or obesity - trigger behaviors such as overeating stereotype obesity could.

Campbell and Mohr together a series of five experiments to determine the impact of the mere sight of overweight people. In the first researchers recruited people go through a lobby on the campus, and showed them pictures of an overweight or normal weight women, or a lamp. The respondents, average age 25, were asked to evaluate photos for a future studies (a task Sham) and then self-help were allowed from a bowl of candy as "Thank you" for their time.

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Those who saw the photo of the overweight woman took significantly more candy (an average 2.2 piece) than those who saw the normal-weighted woman or the lamp (an average 1.5 units).

Subsequent attempts of the researchers involved in "cookie taste tests." Participants were overweight in the first experiment first with photos of people or primed normal weight or a neutral image such as a tree. Then they were presented to asked (but up to eight) cookies on a plate cookies by at least wine tasting. People who themselves saw pictures of the overweight woman ate significantly more cookies than those who were exposed to the thin woman. The difference stopped regardless of sex or weight of the participants.

Interestingly, however, certain factors which the fat was disturbed person induced eating. One was images of overweight people actually use food. Although participants ate more cookies by using simple portraits of overweight people see it, ate it less food obese displayed. The difference is that the former State only a stereotype - probably unconsciously - while the latter more clearly is a link between food and weight. "Weight for attention distracted by the person, it will be necessary,", the researchers write. ("" When a consumer considers membership (for example), "this person is overweight" stereotype), stereotype effect on... "Behave partially be can."

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Another way of researchers KEP people from eating more: simply they remember their own health goals. When study participants were asked to write about their health goals for three minutes (versus about their State of origin) before eating cookies, she ended up eating the same amount regardless of whether they a portrait of a woman, overweight or thin displayed.

The researchers, whose Studie of consumer research was published in the journal "the ?ndings of our research are consistent with the spread of obesity through social networks," Castle. "People see, close social bonds both personally and in photos, the people with whom they have." "If others include overweight are, our research suggests that stereotype activation to increased food consumption relative to the could lead if others are close healthy weight since only to see that someone can increase overweight food."

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The author's advice for staying on track: could receive admonition. Conscious personal health goals before the can sit down on your, please refrain from overindulging food to avoid.

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Wrestler rapid weight loss may cause that mental confusion (HealthDay)

Monday, April 18 HealthDay News)-fast weight loss in the days before a wrestling can increase confusion, but has no effect on strength, a new study finds.

US Researchers investigated the physical and mental effects of "Weight cutting" in 16 collegiate wrestler. Ten days before in the competition, which were wrestler weighed and underwent psychological and strength tests. You can then lose a desired amount of weight before the game, using methods such as exercise, calorie restriction and fluid deprivation.

The wrestler were weighed again in the days before the game and the psychological and strength tests were repeated on the day of competition.

The wrestler up to 8 percent of their body weight lost, and the mean weight loss was about six pounds. Although they had 10 days to lose weight, they lost almost all their weight in the two days before the match.

The researchers found that the lost wrestler, at least 4 percent of their body mass had significantly higher levels of confusion on the day of competition. There was no increased confusion for those, less than 4 percent of her body lost mass.

Body mass reduction had no effect on other mental functions or grip strength or lower body makes, said the researchers at the California State University, Fullerton.

The study is published in the April issue of the journal of strength and conditioning research.

It is common that wrestler is a body mass before a meeting in an attempt to win a reduction in competitive advantage in their weight class, but in "a sport which requires fractions of a second decision, that make the wrestler reason justifying higher State of confusion and tension can affect performance" researchers in a journal press release noted.

More information

The US national institutes of health has more about safe weight loss.

The “Quick Weight Loss Diet” Trend Disadvantage

There is nothing unusual in getting frustrated or feeling guilty or feeling worse about not fitting into a smaller size dress even after a month of hard work through a rapid weight loss program.
This is because; sometimes things which we think would motivate would actually backfire.

It is therefore advisable to set more easily achievable targets for oneself. Hence, in case you
are going to apply the new-clothes technique, decrease the size gradually and do not burn a
hole in your pocket by buying expensive clothes with a hope of losing weight in a very short
span of time. One more thing to be kept in mind is that if you continuously repent not losing
weight quickly, you tend to end up slipping in rapid weight loss plans and fad diets.
One bitter but true fact is that there is no single diet plan which has been proved to aid in rapid
loss of weight and there are no swift ways for people to lose weight more than what their body
can actually provide for. Such diets can never be effective in the longer run.

What Works Best
Since the apt attitude and the correct principle are not applied, all these fad diets and swift
weight loss programs do not prove efficient and effective. This ends up in weight gain after a
certain period of time which would make the person feel even worse.
Such quick fixes for losing weight are termed fad diets as they are nothing more than a trend, a
fad. People would realize this only when they see that the diet has not helped them in any way.
The points discussed below are the things to be considered before blindly trusting the so called
effective weight losing programs that are being promoted in the markets after spending so many
bucks. They are just namesake stories to make people prefer their diet programs. So, here they
go:-

1. Missing out on meals
A diet program can be definitely termed fad diet if it calls for the individual to skip meals at any
time of the day. Not eating food at proper time may lead to serious hitches especially if the
person is diabetic.
Skipping meals is completely unhealthy as it would only result in low blood sugar, otherwise
known as hypoglycaemia which would result in more consumption of food in the upcoming
meals.
2. Dieting Devoid Of Exercise Or The Vice-Versa
Exercises are very important for maintaining a healthy and fit body. It helps in maintaining
proper circulation of blood in the body as well as in carrying out other processes.
Thus, diet plans which are void of exercises are basically pointless and useless. For proper
maintenance of the body, diet and exercise must be combined together in the right proportion.
3. Dawdling Continuously
Postponing diet plans is not the best thing to be done. This is because postponement would
lead to lethargy. If the diet plan calls for you to lose weight within a stipulated time, it clearly
implies that it is nothing but a wannabe trend setting fad diet which is absolutely unhealthy.
Precisely, we can say that slowly losing the excess weight by proper diet and exercise is a
better way to lose weight than just blindly following a so called rapid fad diet which might result
in more complications and side-effects. It is said so because a fad diet may not make the
individual feel good about the whole process while the process of planned and healthy weight
loss may make him feel great as well as leave behind a positive enthusiasm.

Shopping Tips For The Ph Miracle Diet

There are a few guidelines to be followed if you are all set to experiment with the astounding pH
diet plan. The first thing to be taken care of is to clean up all the food stuff with high acidic
content out of the refrigerator and the pantry. However, this would become difficult if you stay
with other people in the house. In such a state, you need to take care that you clear out food
stuff which tempts you the most.

Natural food stores and health stores are great options to get the food stuff you will be
consuming during the diet period though grocery stores would also be suitable to get the
needful things. In case you are in an area without such kind of specialty stores, the local grocery
is the best solution.
Certain points which need to be kept in mind while shopping as per your diet requirements are
discussed here. Make a list of the items that you need to purchase. It is no use walking around
the store trying to recollect everything that you need. You can also plan the week’s menu which
you would be following and shop according to it. This would help you in buying only the stuff that
you need and would therefore save time, money and wastage of items. You will have to buy a
lot of alkaline stuff which would mainly be from a variety of vegetables.
The next thing to be taken care of is that you need to be on a complete alkaline diet when you
initially start off with the pH diet. Every kind of the pH diet, whether strict or lenient aims at a
perfect balance between alkaline and acids. Hence, this should be kept in mind while preparing
grocery lists and menus. Food stuff with lower levels of acids consists of whole grain pasta,
bananas, eggs, dried beans, wheat bread, nuts and milk. A proportion of 70 percent alkaline to
30 percent acids is considered ideal.
While at a grocery store, you will notice that you would be more on the outside sections of the
store as that is the area which generally comprises of fresh food items which may match your
needs during the diet period. The outer rim invariably consists of farm fresh products, meat
and/or deli products and the dairy products.
Vegetables are the most prominent components of the pH diet and hence more focus would be
on them while shopping. Frozen and conventional produce contribute nothing to the diet plan

Getting More Alkaline Into Your Diet

The PH miracle diet has revolutionized the perspective on eating. The diet aspires to achieve ph
levels of 20% acid and 80% alkaline in food intake. This aims at equaling the ph levels of the
bloodstream, which bends towards the alkaline. This can be challenging for quite a few people,
as the food they usually tend to indulge in is considered mostly acidic. It thus becomes
important to recognize sources of alkaline content, construct a list of such foods and add them
to your PH miracle diet.

Alkalizing foods neutralize the acidity present in the bloodstream, thereby giving the body a
sensation of rejuvenation. They regenerate and restore cells in the system and refresh the body,
thus acting as a “breath of fresh air”. Repeated intake of food high in acid content causes
premature break down of the body. These “acid bombs” are carried throughout the system by
the bloodstream, causing harm and posing a threat and danger to the body. We can optimize
the PH level in our blood by identifying what foods have an alkalizing property, and integrating it
in our diet in higher amounts. Levels 7 and greater are considered alkaline, the levels of human
blood being between 7.35-7.45.
The simplest way to get alkaline into the system is by eating fruits and vegetables. Some
alkalizing vegetables are: barley grass, alfalfa, beet greens, beets, carrots, cabbage, broccoli,
chard greens, cauliflower, celery, collard greens, dandelions, cucumber, green beans, garlic,
egg plant, green peas, kohlrabi, kale, lettuce, mustard greens, onions, nightshade veggies,
peppers, peas, parsnip, radishes, pumpkin, rutabaga, spinach, sea veggies, sweet potato,
sprouts, watercress, tomato, wild greens and what grass.
Some alkalizing fruits are: avocados, apricots, apples, berries, bananas, blackberries, cherries,
cantaloupe, coconut, cherries, currants, figs, dates, grapes, honeydew, grapefruit, limes,
lemons, muskmelons, oranges, nectarines, peaches, pineapple, pears, raspberries, raisins,
strawberries, rhubarb, tangerines, strawberries, tropical fruits, tomatoes and watermelon.
In the process of addition of more alkaline in ones diet, protein can pose a problem. All animal
derived protein is acidic. But there are proteins that are alkalizing. Some are almonds, millet,
chestnuts, tofu, whey protein powder and tempeh.

What is food without those herbs, spices and sweeteners, which add greatly to its character?
These alkalizing embellishments can be added to your culinary endeavors to balance out the
PH levels. Condiments which have an alkalizing effect are: curry, cinnamon, ginger, chili
pepper, mustard, sea salt, miso, stevia, tamari and all herbs.
Minerals are also essential for health. Proper blood PH balance can be maintained by
identifying which minerals are alkalizing. Some are: potassium, cesium, sodium, magnesium
and calcium.
In addition to these, there are some ingredients that make the addition of alkaline to the diet
even easier. These may be listed as: vinegar, apple cider, alkaline antioxidant water, lecithin
granules, bee pollen, probiotic cultures, molasses, green juices, soured dairy products, fresh
fruit juices, veggie juices, and mineral water.
Knowledge of which foods and which supplements add alkaline to the PH levels is just the first
step. Implementation, which takes commitment and planning is the next. The best way to test
the body’s PH level, once these foods have been added to the diet, is the saliva strip test.
These tests are available in most of the health food stores. A PH between 7 and 8 boasts of
good health.
One should not forget that the aim of the PH miracle diet is to ensure that acidic intake is less
than the alkaline intake. This does not necessarily mean that one cannot consume foods that
are more acidic. The balance of ones diet should merely be geared towards alkaline foods.
Maintaining an appropriate PH balance, one can ensure that the body performs at an optimum level.

Atkins Diet Basics

The Atkins diet has become quite an old trend now though it has become a recognized fact

among the health conscious as well as the dieters. Dr. Atkins’s New Diet Revolution book

discovered a whole new bunch of audience who had problems with low-fat diet plans. However,

we cannot say that everyone surrounded by this hype is familiar with the fundamental principles

of this diet plan.

Here are the important principles based on which the Atkins diet has been designed for giving

best results. The theory of the diet deals with why fats get accumulated in our body. As per the

study conducted by Dr. Atkins, too much consumption of simple sugars and carbohydrates

would lead to weight gain. In this regard, your waistline plays a vital role in the sense that more

than the calories and the quantity of fat we consume; it is the manner in which the

carbohydrates are processed, which matters. A phenomenon termed “insulin resistance” has

been explained by D. Atkins in this regard. He says that the main reason for many people being

overweight is because of improper working of the cells in their bodies.

Sugar levels tend to get elevated when too much of carbohydrates and sugar is consumed in

turn resulting in insulin being released from the pancreas. This happens because it is necessary

for storing sugar in the form of glycogen in the muscle cells and liver which is used later on

when extra energy is needed. But, glycogen can be stored only to a certain extent after which it

is converted into fat. Anyone who consumes too much of carbohydrates tend to face such a

situation.

On the other hand, individuals who are insulin resistant face tougher problems in storing and

using the excess carbohydrates consumed by them. Higher the level of insulin, higher is the

resistance. When the cells try to fight against the increasing level of insulin, they end up

producing more of fat and lesser amount of glycogen. The result of this is extra weight gain in

insulin resistant individuals.

Insulin resistant people have many more problems to face which includes fatigue, low blood

sugar (resulting in hypoglycaemia), brain fogging (loss of creativity, poor memory and inability to

focus), depression, high blood sugar and sleepiness.

Free Weight Loss Programs

More and more people are adapting their lifestyles to strict fitness regimes. While some do it to
acquire a sexy new body, some do it as they are embarrassed with their present self, and some
others do it just to remain healthy and fit. There are plenty of fitness routines available on the
internet, in spas and gyms. Some of these programs are very expensive and heavy on the
pocket. One may lose weight by simply trying to manipulate the necessary finance to adopt
these fitness routines.

One need not visit the gym and the spa and spend hours working out and performing strenuous
exercises in order to obtain that beautiful, sexy body. Several books available at bookstores
offer effective and convenient weight reduction programs for free, although the books don't
come for free. These programs are gaining a lot of popularity through much hype, publicity and
reviews which often confuse the person as to which one he must follow. Before you choose a
weight loss program, go through these summaries about popular diet programs.
The first book is Dr. Atkins' New Diet Revolution. This program endorses high protein and low
carbohydrate foods. One may thrive on meat and vegetables but must completely avoid pasta
and bread. There are no restrictions on fat, so you can indulge on the salad dressing, while
spreading the butter freely. However, this diet lacks fiber and calcium content and limited
composition of grain and fruits, while it is high in fat.
The next review is Dr. Heller's Carbohydrate Addict's Diet. This diet program incorporates low
carbohydrate foods in the diet. It allows consumption of vegetables, fruits, meat, grains and
dairy products. It advocates consumption of fewer carbohydrates. The "Reward" meal is very
high in fats.
Dr. Goor's Choose to Lose imposes restriction on consuming fatty foods. The person is provided
with a "fat" budget and is allowed to spend it. There is no pressure on carbohydrate intake. It
allows consumption of meat, poultry and low-fat dairy products. It advocates intake of fruits,
vegetables, bread, pasta and grains. This program is reasonably healthy as it supplies sufficient
amount of fruits, veggies and saturated fat. However, one must monitor triglyceride levels. If it is
high, cut down on carbohydrate and indulge on unsaturated fats.


The next summary is the DASH Diet. It encourages intake of moderate quantities of unsaturated
fat and protein and high carbohydrate foods. It is basically aimed at lowering blood pressure,
and it follows the pyramid guide. Hence, it advocates high intake of grains, fruits, vegetables
and low-fat foods. However, some people feel that it involves excessive eating to produce a
significant loss in weight.
The following summary is about Dr. Ornish's Eat More, Weigh Less. It advocates vegetarian and
low-fat foods. It restricts "glow" foods and recommends a watch over egg whites and non-fat
dairy. But this diet is deficient in calcium and restrains intake of poultry and seafood.
Eat Right for your Type. This is interesting because it recommends the diet based on the
dieter's blood group. It encourages plenty of meat intakes for people with O type blood. But the
diet plans for certain other blood types are not balanced and are very low in calories. Besides,
there is no recorded proof that blood group varies the dietary requirements.
The Pritkin Principle
It focuses on cutting down the calories by eating watery foods that tend to satisfy hunger.
Intake of fruits, vegetables, pasta, oatmeal, salads, low-fat dairy and soups are allowed. It limits
protein rich foods to seafood and poultry. Though it is healthy as it provides less saturated fat, it
is low in calcium and lean protein content.
Volumetrics
Advises low calorie food intake. Its recommendations are similar to Pitkin but it asks the dieter
to refrain from eating dry foods like crackers, pretzels and popcorn. It is reasonably healthy as it
has high supplies in fruits, vegetables and also in low calorie, unsaturated fats.
The Zone
It has moderately low carbohydrate content and high protein content. This advocates low-fat
and protein rich foods like fish, chicken, veggies, grains and fruits. Though it is healthy, it lacks
in calcium.

Weight Watchers
It is high in carbohydrate content, and moderate on proteins and fats. It is a very healthy plan
and is extremely flexible. It gives the dieter the liberty to follow his own diet plan than restrict him
to a pre-packaged routine.