Bombarded with unhealthy offerings by the food industry, we blame and shame ourselves for gaining weight. But is it really our fault, or are we being “entrapped?”
A recent study found Australian soft drinks had higher concentrations of glucose than US soft drinks, which had more fructose. Does this mean Australian drinks are worse for health than US drinks?
No wonder we’re addicted to junk food. Neuroscience shows food packaging affects our enjoyment of these foods, and plays on the same brain processes as hard drug addiction.
Kenneth McLeod, Binghamton University, State University of New York
Weight loss often leads to declines in our resting metabolic rate – how many calories we burn at rest – which makes it hard to keep the weight off. So why does weight loss make resting metabolism go down?
If you’re an average-sized adult eating and drinking enough to maintain a healthy body weight, you should consume no more than 12 teaspoons of sugar per day.
Many of us enter a new year reflecting on where we have been and our plans for the future. For some, this will mean acknowledging that a couple more kilos have crept on over the past year.
If you’re embarking on post-holiday weight loss, understanding your body’s physiological responses to the excess of the holiday season could give you the edge for a successful New Year’s resolution.
People overeat. And people don’t always make the healthiest food choices. That much is clear. But who is to blame for overeating and poor food choices?
While a single, smaller portion leads people to eat less, having multiple smaller portions on offer appears to lead some people - notably the diet-conscious - to eat more.
Time spent indoors during winter provides a good excuse to eat more, and generally indulge. But does the weather really influence what we eat, or is it merely a fig leaf for our inherent gluttony?