More Interesting weight loss factoids

As part of the 12 week challenge in the motivation forum, I bought "You on a diet" and set a goal to read it and share what I learn from it. Since it is more related to weight loss than motivation, I'm putting it here. If it should be somewhere else, please move it or let me know where it should be posted and I'll move it.

Factoid #1:The difference between obese and thin people is not the number of fat CELLS. It is the size of the fat cells. When you store fat, you don't grow new fat cells, they just get larger. Same goes for muscles. When you build muscles, you don't grow new muscle cells, the cells you have get bigger.

Factoid #2: (Mythbusting) The true root of obesity is agriculture and not fast food. The rise in agrculture provided a steady supply of foods that we wanted (as opposed to what we needed). With a constant source of food, people became less nomadic and communities grew closer together. In addition, farm raised meats are fattier (and tastier) than wild game once hunted by nomadic tribal man (or woman [;->).

NOTE: The book is not saying that agrculture is bad, it is just pointing out that this is where the shift truly began. When I read it, I thought of another perfect example. When you see photos or paintings of original American Natives, that were typically tribal hunter/gatherers, did you ever see any of them overweight? I have never seen any real historical evidence that they were and quite a bit that they were not. Yet at the same time, there were settlers in large cities on the east coast that were heavyset (though perhaps not AS obese as some in America today [myself included, but not for much longer]).

Factoid #3: The Journal of the American Medical Association had a study where they had 2 groups of people try two different diets. The first group was simply told to eat a diet rich in "good for you foods", such as whole grains, fruits, vegetables, nuts and olive oil. The other group was not told what to eat but instead given specific percentages of Protein, Carbs and Fat to eat each day. In short they had to think about preparing their foods, measuring and dividing their portions while the first group was just given general guidelines.

Neither group was told how much to eat and were to let their hunger dictact their eating patterns. When they did, the first group lost weight without trying because they were eating foods that left them full longer so they didn't eat as much. The first group ate significantly more fiber, ate higher amounts of omega-3 fats (in the form of olives, fish and nuts [especially walnuts]), and they doubled their consumption of fruits and vegetables.

Factoid #4: do not eat all your calories in one meal. Anecdotal evidence from doctors watching residents that worked the 'all night shift' found that people eating all their calories in one meal gained more weight than those spacing out their calories. The reason? The same reason if you under eat, your bobdy goes into starvation mode and starts storing more fat. 

That is all for now. As I read more and if people remain interested I'll post more factoids.

Thanks for those factoids!

I've tagged this thread for future reference.  Don't be surprised if you see me quoting it! 

With regards to Factoid #1 - I guess I've fallen under the misconception that we grow more fat cell when we gain weight and then once they're there you can not lose them.  Factoid #1 is somehow comforting - makes me feel like one less obstacle to losing weight.

Great information. Thanks for sharing and I would love to hear more.

Factoid #1 is also an example of how you are predetermined to overweight (to some extent).  Some people ARE born with  more fat cells than others.  I suppose that would make them more susceptible to higher body fat?

Finewine, I'm not sure I'm ready to agree with you on that. The main point of that fact was that you have the same number of fat cells as an adult as you do as an adolescent. That some people have more and thus will end up over weight is a different statement all together.

While I do believe that genetics might have some small part to play in being overweight, I believe it has more to do with how we were taught to eat and view food.

I chose to believe this at least for now because I would rather be a normal weight naturally and not have to constantly fight against genes to maintain a normal weight. I'll let you all know if the book says other wise.

ok Time for more Factiods this time from Chapter 2:

Factiod #5: Short term stress depresses the appetite while long term low key stress increases the appetite. Anyone want to try some meditation? [;->

Factiod #6: SEX IS GOOD!!!! Not just for the exercise, or that it is fun. The hypothalamus is the gland that coordinates behaviors related to appetite and not just hunger, also for thirst and our sex drive. The book's author knows at least one person that controled an eating problem with "regular, monogamous, healthy sex". when the appetite function for sex was satisfied, the appetite function for food was diverted. 

Note: The Hypothalamus also controls thirst, so if you think you are hungry try drinking some water first and see if you were really just thirsty.

Factiod #7: High Fructose Corn Syrup (HFCS) is really bad!!! HFCS does not register as regular food in the brain, so it does not 'turn off' the hunger switch in the brain. So foods that are high in HFCS give you lots of calories but leave you still hungry!! Same goes for Enriched, bleached, or refined flour (this means it has been stripped of most of it's nutrients).

Factiod #8: In 1700 the average yearly per capita (per person) consumption of sugar was 7.5 pounds. Today it is 150 pounds. 

Factiod #9: Letrin is the chemical that makes you feel full. Ghrelin is the checmical that makes you feel hungry. Ghrelin works short term in bursts. Leptin works long term. As long as your Leptrin stays higher than your Ghrelin you don't feel hungry. Normally, your stomach secretes Ghrelin every half hour, This sends a message to your brain that you need to eat. If you are really hungry or dieting, these messages jump up to every 20 minutes or so and are amplified. After long periods of time it is harder and harder to ignore the messages that your body needs food. That is why most people 'lose their willpower'. That is also why dr. recommend several small meals and/or more 'good for you' foods. The 'good for you' foods. build up higher levels of Leptrin leaving you full longer.

Gee, I hope the partner of the person mentioned in Factoid #6 needed to lose weight, too.  

Thanks for sharing! =)

Factoid #3: The Journal of the American Medical Association had a study where they had 2 groups of people try two different diets. The first group was simply told to eat a diet rich in "good for you foods", such as whole grains, fruits, vegetables, nuts and olive oil. The other group was not told what to eat but instead given specific percentages of Protein, Carbs and Fat to eat each day. In short they had to think about preparing their foods, measuring and dividing their portions while the first group was just given general guidelines. Neither group was told how much to eat and were to let their hunger dictact their eating patterns. When they did, the first group lost weight without trying because they were eating foods that left them full longer so they didn't eat as much. The first group ate significantly more fiber, ate higher amounts of omega-3 fats (in the form of olives, fish and nuts [especially walnuts]), and they doubled their consumption of fruits and vegetables.


I wholeheartedly agree with this one.  I think basic nutrition is the key, not a specific ratio of protein/fats/carbohydrates. 

I can honestly say, back so many years ago, if I had only eaten when I was hungry, and stopped when I was full, I would not have been overweight, or maybe only 10-15 lbs at MOST -- and that would have been cured by correcting my diet. 

saw an interesting show on kidlets and appetite.  it was Scientific American Frontier "Fat and Happy" episode hosted by Alan Alda and can be watched free on the website; the segment is "obesity begins at home: http://www.pbs.org/saf/1110/segments/1110-2.h tm . 

the younger kids ate until they were full and stopped.  the older kids cleaned their plates even when it was too much food... because they had been taught to clean their plates?  our eating patterns go waaaaaaay back.  we always had to clean our plates and were never allowed to even skip meals if we weren't hungry.... 

In my family, we had to be members of "The Clean Plate Club". Now 39 years later, I'm a recovering ex-member and struggling to lose the weight I gained by being such a loyal follower!

Seriously, I cringe when I hear my sibblings and parents use the same terminology with my nieces.

I'm really enjoying this information!