Weight Loss Tips

3 Giant Snack Mistakes

This weekend, you may find yourself shopping for snacks for the Super Bowl or for the week ahead.  If you're trying to find a few healthy options, you'll want to avoid making one of these giant snack mistakes.

• Snack-sized treats. Some manufacturers have begun packaging foods into small sizes and advertising them as low calorie or diet -friendly.  You'll see some "100 calorie packs" on store shelves.  The problem is that most people don't eat just one pack.  The foods are often low in nutrients and high in salt and sugar.  Be sure that you read the nutritional label before you buy and multiply the calorie count by the number of packs you will realistically eat.
• Fat-free pretzels. The phrase "fat-free" is tempting when it comes to buying diet friendly foods.   Buyers might be tempted to buy fat-free pretzels instead of potato chips or tortilla strips in an effort to decrease their ... More >>

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  People-Pleasers are More Likely to Overeat

  If you are a people-pleaser, a person who goes out of their way to make other people happy, you are at higher risk for overeating in social situations.  A new study conducted at Case Western University found that college students who identified themselves as people-pleasers were not only likely to overeat in social situations, but were also likely to regret their decision at a later time. People-pleasers like to keep their social situations free from conflict.  "They don't want to rock the boat or upset the sense of social harmony," said Julie Exline in a release.  Exline, a Case Western Reserve psychologist and lead author of the study, explained that people pleasers are less likely to turn down food when it is offered to them, even if the food isn't healthy. So if you are a people pleaser, are you doomed to gain weight?  Probably not.  You can't avoid social situations altogether, so if weight maintenance or weight loss is on your agenda, ... More >>

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  Obesity Help is More Likely to Come from a Lean Doctor

  If you are looking for obesity help, your best bet may be to find a doctor with a healthy BMI.  A recent study published in the Journal of Obesity found that physicians with a normal BMI are not only more likely to discuss weight with their obese patients, but those leaner doctors also feel more confident about the advice that they give. More Weight Loss Help from Physicians with Normal BMI The study was conducted at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health Department of Health Policy and Management.  Researchers evaluated 500 physicians to determine how physician body mass index affected the quality of obesity care given to overweight patients and the physicians' level of confidence in the obesity help that they give. According to their results, 30 percent of physicians with normal BMI were likely to discuss weight loss with their obese patients as compared to only 18 percent of overweight/obese ... More >>

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  Brown Fat Theory Provides Potential Weight Loss Breakthrough

  New research supports a brown fat theory that may provide scientists with a weight loss breakthrough.  In mice, brown fat is tissue that burns large amounts of fat and creates significant weight loss. Until recently, scientists didn't know if adult humans carry this fat or if it behaves the same way in human bodies that it does in mice.  But a small study published this month in the Journal of Clinical Investigation, provides new evidence that it does. Brown adipose tissue, or BAT, is literally fat that is brown in color.  The tissue has more mitochondria that standard white fat which gives it a darker color.  Mitochondria are the energy production centers in the body.  Unlike white fat, the mitochondria in brown fat uses fat for energy and burns larger quantities of it than other tissue. Brown Fat Theory in Humans and Mice In mice, studies have shown that an increase in brown fat created significant weight loss ... More >>

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  Why is America Still Fat?

  America is fat.  Despite years of awareness campaigns, public service announcements and incessant ads for weight loss programs, obesity rates in the United States have remained at about 36 percent, according to a recent study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association. Researchers examined both body mass index scores as well as height and weight data to determine obesity rates in 2009 and 2010.  The bad news is that there has been no improvement in obesity rates since the last evaluation period (2003-2008).  The good news, however, is that there has been no increase in obesity rates either. Are you surprised?  It seems over the past few years there has been increased media coverage of obesity issues.  Shows like Biggest Loser, Celebrity Fit Club and Jamie Oliver's Food Revelation have made entertainment out of the issue of weight loss. We have a first lady in the White House who ... More >>

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  If You Love Fatty Foods, Your Genes May Be To Blame

  Do you crave fatty foods?  Your genes may be to blame.  A new study shows that people who have more of a gene, identified as CD36, are more sensitive to the taste of fat than people who have less of it.  In fact, people who had the highest levels of CD36 were 8 times more likely to detect fat in food than people who had less of the gene. Do Our Genes Determine How Much Fat We Eat? These new findings are being evaluated alongside recent research into the same gene performed on mice.  In those animals, a high fat diet led to a decreased production of CD36 and a decreased sensitivity to fat. Senior investigator Nada A. Abumrad, PhD, explains more in a University of Washington publication.

  It may be, as was shown recently, that as people consume more fat, they become less sensitive to it, requiring more intake for the same satisfaction. What we will need to determine in the future is whether our ability to detect ... More >>

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  Paula Deen's Diabetes Diagnosis: Will it Change the Way You Eat?

  Paula Deen's s diabetes diagnosis won't change her cooking style. The Food Network star, known for her high fat, indulgent recipes, told the Today show's Al Roker that she will continue to cook and eat her signature dishes in moderation.  During her appearance, she also announced that she will be the spokesperson for Victoza, a diabetes medication that is meant to be used along with a healthy diet and exercise. Deen's announcement has led to a flood of criticism and blame.  Some feel that her cooking style, with plenty of fried foods, butter, and high fat dairy products, is directly to blame for the diabetes diagnosis.  And many have commented on her endorsement deal with Victoza.  One blogger writes "Ms. Deen's approach of eating smaller amounts of the same unhealthful foods while at the same time promoting injectable medications sets a bad example for those in similar situations." Many also feel that the endorsement of high fat cooking ... More >>

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  Need Weight Loss Support? Get it Here

  One of the greatest predictors of adherence to an exercise program or diet is social support.  People who have weight loss support are more likely to stay motivated and stay accountable when the going gets tough.  But what do you do if the people around you don't support your weight loss efforts?  The answer is to get online and get connected. The Weight Loss Forum at About.com is a network of dieters, exercisers, moms, dads, eaters, cookers, readers, shoppers, and people just like you who have had challenges and successes on the path to weight loss.   Join the forum community to ask questions, comment on trends and products or just to find a few friends who understand your experience. Use the Weight Loss Forum to:

  • Get answers.  If you have a question about weight loss, chances are good that you are not alone.  Post your question on the forum and get answers from many different ... More >>

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    The High Cost of Drinking: Alcohol and Weight Loss

    A new report about drinking revealed surprising facts about the alcohol consumption habits of Americans. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, one in six people binge drinks about four times per month.  On average these drinkers consume eight drinks per binge. In addition to a wide range of health, economic and social consequences, binge drinking can make weight loss nearly impossible.  The calories consumed during one binge could easily total 1000 calories or more.  But even moderate drinking can make weight loss difficult. Calorie Counts for Popular Drinks Often, dieters count calories that they consume during meals and snacks, but forget to include the calories that they drink.  If you're dieting and not losing weight, this could be the cause.  Alcoholic drinks can pack a major caloric punch.  Even if you drink in moderation, the calories in some of these popular drinks can easily derail your ... More >>

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    Weight Loss Surgery May Benefit Patients with Diabetes

    Weight loss surgery may help reduce blood sugar levels in patients with type II diabetes.  A recent study examined the effects of three different types of weight loss surgery on blood sugar levels in diabetes patients. Those who chose the gastric bypass procedure were most likely to achieve remission from their diabetes diagnosis. Different Kinds of Weight Loss Surgery Research published in the January issue of the British Journal of Surgery examined patients who had undergone three different types of weight loss surgery.

    • Gastric Bypass. Sometimes called Roux-en-Y or RYGB, gastric bypass surgery restricts food intake and changes the way it is absorbed by creating a new route for digestion.
    • Sleeve Gastrectomy. A vertical pouch is created during this procedure that limits food intake and consumption.
    • Gastric Banding. ... More >>

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