Typical Fast Food Seems to Make Us Eat More
Does Changing Portion Size and How Fast Food is Eaten Discourage Gorging? A new study sheds some light.
Eating large amounts of food at a rapid rate is defined as "gorging." This sounds rather close to another certain -ing word (usually attached to the word-purging) and that word is "binging."
No matter what you call it, eating large amounts of food at a rapid rate is not a healthy thing. You want to eat in a slow and mindful way so food is enjoyed and your brain is aware of the eating process and is given time to tell your stomach when it is comfortable and satisfied. No good can come from eating large amounts of food fast. Not only are we likely to take in excessive amounts of calories but I worry about the mental ramifications after someone eats large amounts of food fast-their possible "guilt" and feeling bad about themselves, not to mention possible temptation to purge after these times (which opens the door to eating disorders and all that that includes).
Well, a new study from the Children's Hospital in Boston, used teens age 13 to 17 years and exposed them to three types of fast food meals (all including chicken nuggets, french fries, and cola). Once, lot of fast food was served to them at one time. Another time, a lot of fast food was served in smaller portions but almost at the same time, and a third time where a lot of fast food was served in smaller portions over 15 minute intervals. They looked at how many calories were consumed by the teens in these three situations.
It didn't seem to matter how the large amount of fast food was served, the teens still ate about half of their daily calorie needs in that one meal. The researchers suggested that certain factors related to fast food may be promoting excessive calorie intake:
* fast food being low in fiber
* high in palatability
* high in calorie density
* high in fat content
* and high in sugar in liquid form
My suggestion is to choose fast food options high in fiber (it exists!) that have a lower calorie density and a lower fat content and completely avoid sugar in liquid form. This means choosing fast food restaurants that have these types of offerings.
~~Elaine
Related Topics: Teens and Binge Eating, Fast Food Tips
Technorati Tags: eatingdisorders, binging, fastfood, healthyfastfood
Eating large amounts of food at a rapid rate is defined as "gorging." This sounds rather close to another certain -ing word (usually attached to the word-purging) and that word is "binging."
No matter what you call it, eating large amounts of food at a rapid rate is not a healthy thing. You want to eat in a slow and mindful way so food is enjoyed and your brain is aware of the eating process and is given time to tell your stomach when it is comfortable and satisfied. No good can come from eating large amounts of food fast. Not only are we likely to take in excessive amounts of calories but I worry about the mental ramifications after someone eats large amounts of food fast-their possible "guilt" and feeling bad about themselves, not to mention possible temptation to purge after these times (which opens the door to eating disorders and all that that includes).
Well, a new study from the Children's Hospital in Boston, used teens age 13 to 17 years and exposed them to three types of fast food meals (all including chicken nuggets, french fries, and cola). Once, lot of fast food was served to them at one time. Another time, a lot of fast food was served in smaller portions but almost at the same time, and a third time where a lot of fast food was served in smaller portions over 15 minute intervals. They looked at how many calories were consumed by the teens in these three situations.
It didn't seem to matter how the large amount of fast food was served, the teens still ate about half of their daily calorie needs in that one meal. The researchers suggested that certain factors related to fast food may be promoting excessive calorie intake:
* fast food being low in fiber
* high in palatability
* high in calorie density
* high in fat content
* and high in sugar in liquid form
My suggestion is to choose fast food options high in fiber (it exists!) that have a lower calorie density and a lower fat content and completely avoid sugar in liquid form. This means choosing fast food restaurants that have these types of offerings.
~~Elaine
Related Topics: Teens and Binge Eating, Fast Food Tips
Technorati Tags: eatingdisorders, binging, fastfood, healthyfastfood
Labels: eating disorders, fast food
3 Comments:
hi,
Ya you are right...eating should always be in a normal speed...and not at all fast...
cheers
suma valluru
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http://www.food-giftbasket.org
The real hidden danger in "prepared foods" is HFCS High fructose corn syrup. This can now be listed as "artificial flavorings" so it is difficult to detect. Those healthy salads have items immersed in this to continue one's addiction to HFCS. I went on an all fresh meat and eggs diet, & lost 80 pounds. Curves persuaded me to change to a low callorie diet, including prepackaged foods and I gained back half the weight I lost. It seems that the best way to keep weight off is to eat only fresh whole foods. Many meats that seem fresh actually have HFCS and salt added. HFCS has the property of altering blood sugars so that one eats and becomes MORE hungry. I get my living from growing corn, yet I think HFCS needs to be banned by the FDA. It is the major cause of obesity and heart disease in the USA. This product became popular in many foods where it is hidden, and as its use spread, so did American waist lines. Please warn people about the hazards of this. It would be interesting to repeat the study with broiled organic chicken topped salad, with oil/ balsamic vinegar dressing and 2% milk. I expect the results would be quite different.
Some fast food salads are good especially if it made with GRILLED chicken, not breaded/fried. You still have to be mindful of the dressing and if it comes with cheese. French fries are ok because they have some fiber in them, but a non-smothered baked potato is a better option with light or fat free sour cream. I totally avoid soda or milkshakes while out, a 24oz soda will have 80 carbs/sugar and milkshakes are not made from skim milk and light ice! I rather spend around $3 on blue bunny light ice cream tub than a sundae that could be 1/3 of my day's calories.
I would think eating in the car would not help eating slowly - eat inside or take it home (preferable). Because the quantity of food is somewhat small, I often fix a vegetable to eat along with the food to help avoid snacking later and add in protein.
Read the nutritional information before going to the restaurant. Most fast food places now have it online. I always try to decide what I want to get before going and see if it fits in with the other food I have had in the day so I do not go overboard
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