Eating A Little Slower Could Help You Lose Weight: Study
Umer Jamshaid Published February 17, 2018 | 04:23 PM
Changes in eating habits are strongly associated with lower obesity and weight (BMI), and smaller waist circumference
ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 17th Feb, 2018 ) :Changes in eating habits are strongly associated with lower obesity and weight (BMI), and smaller waist circumference. The researchers base their findings on health insurance data for nearly 60,000 people with diabetes in Japan who submitted claims and had regular health check-ups between 2008 and 2013.
The study published in the journal BMJ Open claims data included information on the dates of consultations and treatments, while the check-ups included measurements of weight (BMI) and waist circumference, and the results of tests for blood chemistry, urine, and liver function.
During the check-ups, participants were quizzed about their lifestyle, including their eating and sleep habits as well as alcohol and tobacco use. They were specifically asked about their eating speed, which was categorised as fast, normal, or slow.
And they were asked whether they did any of the following three or more times a week: eat dinner within two hours of going to sleep; snack after dinner; and skip breakfast. More than a third (36.5%) of participants had one check-up over the six years, while just under a third (29.5%) had two.
One in five (20%) had three. At the start of the study, some 22,070 people routinely wolfed down their food; 33,455 ate at a normal speed; and 4192 lingered over every mouthful. The slow eaters tended to be healthier and to have a healthier lifestyle than either the fast or normal speed eaters.
Around half of the total sample (just under 52%) changed their eating speed over the course of the six years.
All the aspects of eating and sleeping habits studied, as well as alcohol consumption and previous obesity-defined as a BMI of 25 kg/m2-were significantly associated with obesity.
After taking account of potentially influential factors, the results showed that compared with those who tended to gobble up their food, those who ate at a normal speed were 29 percent less likely to be obese, rising to 42 percent for those who ate slowly.
And although absolute reductions in waist circumference-an indicator of a potentially harmful midriff bulge-were small, they were greater among the slow and normal speed eaters. Snacking after dinner and eating within two hours of going to sleep three or more times a week were also strongly linked to changes in BMI.
But skipping breakfast wasn't. This is an observational study, so no firm conclusions can be drawn about cause and effect, added to which eating speed was based on subjective assessment, nor did the researchers assess energy intake or physical activity levels, both of which may have been influential.
Nevertheless, eating quickly has been linked to impaired glucose tolerance and insulin resistance. This is possibly because it may take longer for fast eaters to feel full, whereas this might happen more quickly for slow eaters, helping to curb their calorie intake, the researchers suggest.
And they conclude: "Changes in eating habits can affect obesity, BMI, and waist circumference. Interventions aimed at reducing eating speed may be effective in preventing obesity and lowering the associated health risks."
Recent Stories
IHC adjourns PTI founder, Qureshi's appeal till Thursday
CDWP recommends 3 projects to ECNEC for approval
Tarar assures APNS to resolve issues of newspaper industry
Pakistan urged to capitalize on economic stability, for Tobacco Tax Reforms
N. Macedonia polls set to upend ties with EU neighbours
Croatia's ruling party reaches coalition deal with right wing
Bayern coach Tuchel makes three changes for Madrid showdown
Olympic flame arrives on French soil for Paris Games
Punjab Finance Minister announces expansion of Social Protection Authority's man ..
Kenya inks deal to end doctors' strike
Brazil flooding death toll reaches 100
Lebanon security source says five killed in Israeli strikes on south
More Stories From Health
-
Anti- measles drive to start from May 20
12 hours ago -
229 diseases directly linked to obesity: Experts
1 day ago -
Health authorities asked for action against alleged illegal tenders at Services Hospital
5 days ago -
FDA officials urged to resolve peoples’ issues
5 days ago -
Health department confirms 2 deaths due to measles
6 days ago -
Vaccines save at least 154 million lives in 50 years: WHO
14 days ago
-
UHS to issue MBBS degrees within three months after final result
15 days ago -
Rawalpindi woman gives birth to six babies
20 days ago -
DC calls for intensive anti-polio drive in ICT
21 days ago -
World Hemophilia Day observed to underscore importance of providing comprehensive care
21 days ago -
Six in a family with heart on the 'right side'
21 days ago -
Diabetic disease increasing rapidly : Dr. Noor Elahi Memon
21 days ago