Obesity research in action: recent studies
FoodNavigator.com has a special issue on obesity research. Its reports are based on single studies that may or may not agree with previous research and, therefore, require some interpretation.
Zero-calorie sweeteners do not prompt overeating, finds study: People do not compensate with extra calories after consuming foods and drinks sweetened with zero-calorie sweeteners, suggests a new study published in the journal Appetite…
Fruit flies help explain why diet success varies: A study on fruit flies has indicated that genetic interaction with diet has a greater impact on body weight than diet alone, which the researchers say can help explain different reactions to similar diets….
Sucralose does not promote weight gain: Human study: Consumption of sucralose and sucralose-sweetened products does not affect gut hormones linked to hunger, or detrimentally affect blood sugar levels, says a new study from Australia….
Food addiction: Fat may rewire brain like hard drugs: Overeating may be driven by a same neurobiological mechanism in the brain as drug addition, says a new study from the US that adds clout to the theory ‘food addiction’….
Overeating drives fat gain at the hips, says obesity-related study: Fat tissues in the upper and lower body may gain weight differently, says a new study which deepens our understanding of fat accumulation and obesity….
Two of these studies are about the effects of artificial sweeteners on hunger, satiety, calorie intake, and weight gain. In contrast to previous studies, both of these find that sweeteners do not cause people to eat more to compensate for the reduced calories.
I’m guessing we will be hearing more about this topic, as new research results come in. Stay tuned.
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Pffft, “Fat may rewire brain like hard drugs”?? Those mice were given bacon, sausage and cheesecake. IS that fat? No, that’s processed food. The scientists say it themselves – the overeating was driven by ‘highly palatable foods’ which we know to be combinations of fat, sugar, and salt. I would like to see someone overeat unsalted butter, seriously. Why is fat ALWAYS to blame? Hopefully people will do their own research and start seeing through the media’s obsession with blaming everything on macronutrients – at least when the readers know the truth, blaming fat won’t sell as many papers.
“Food addiction: Fat may rewire brain like hard drugs”. Agree with the first post. The article seems to be talking about sugar in the details, but it says fat in the title. Also, the food is never really spelled out. Only “highly pleasurable food”. It seems like the sugar is doing the rewiring, but for some reason it seems like the people reporting on these things want to send out a different message.
Wait a minute. I thought the obesity issue has already been solved.
According to the ‘authorities’ people get obese because they consume more calories than they expend. It is calories in, vs. calories out. End of story.
Ergo, fat people eat too much. Ergo, the cure is making fat people eat less.
What do we need ‘Obesity Research’ for?
And why are they studying biology here? The prevailing view makes obesity a psychological problem. (Fat people are weak-willed and lazy. Thin people are disciplined and active.)
Or, it is a knowledge problem. (Fat people can’t tell the difference between a 1,000-calorie meal and a 300-calorie meal. Thin people know the difference. Ergo, put labels on stuff. Or force restaurants not to serve too much. Fat people unwittingly eat it all, thin people don’t.)
Or, fat people are subconciously swayed by marketing and skillful formulations, and enticing presentations in restaurants. Thin people don’t fall for such stuff.
What do we need ‘obesity research’ for?
According to the ‘authorities’ the problem is solved. Eat less move more.
Why all the studies?
Good ol’ FoodNavigator tidbits… Gotta love all the nods toward research that supports some new and useless extract/ingredient, claiming adding it to some food or beverage will save all mankind, and offer you an increased bottom line
Some great comments already!
As someone who is undergoing a Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy in 2 days. I wish eating less really was the answer. I eat far less than my thinner counterparts. Yes, I belong to a fitness center and I go at least 3 times a week and workout hard. I have lost and regained over 100 pounds several times in my adult life.
Diet’s don’t work for most and for the obese they work less than 1% of the time. Calories in/calories out, sorry, that doesn’t work for everyone either.
More research please! Removing 70% – 80% of one’s stomach along with the duct that produces Ghrelin is not the optimum answer but it’s the only one that seems to help a large portion get in touch with hunger/fullness and healthy eating that some of us never had hard wired to begin with.
What do you bet “ET Addison” has never been severely or even moderately overweight?
I would more say sugar than fat. Junk foods are quick to get rid of the fat, and quick to add lots of sugar.
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