Naturopathic Solutions

After hearing that contestants on the recent series of The Biggest Loser have been advised to chew gum in a bid to suppress their appetites, I decided to look around to see if I could find a study to back it up. I couldn't find the actual details of the study but here is a section of a press release:

"A separate study, carried out by researchers at Glasgow Caledonian University and the Wrigley Science Institute, found that chewing gum can be a good appetite suppressant. The study found that by chewing gum before an afternoon snack, one would consume 25 less snack calories. While that is not a high number, according to nutritionists, even a slight reduction in caloric intake can have significant effects in the long term. This study was comprised of 60 adults between the ages of 18 and 54. Each participant consumed a sweet and salty snack after either chewing sweet gum or not chewing gum at all. Hunger, appetite, and cravings were then monitored throughout the remainder of the day. Along with reducing caloric intake, participants reported feeling an improved mood due to reduced anxiety and stress, and increasing contentment and relaxation. "

Firstly, as any clear thinking adult can work out, Wrigley's is actually involved with this study so alarm bells should start ringing there. The next is the fact that it says each person consumed "25 less snack calories". If this is what it's based on, then it is hardly a great finding. With a kg of body fat consisting of 7700 calories, 25 calories is quite insignificant (0.003 of a kg). Over the course of a year this comes to 1.2kg.

It's hard to get an informed opinion about this study without actually the full report. How long did the study go for, 1 day or 1 year? How exactly were their moods measured? Did they actually lose any weight whilst they were on the program?

All answer to each of these questions can make a big difference to how we should interpret the results. If the study went for a day then it is totally insignificant, whereas if it went for a year it would hold a lot more weight. If the moods were measure by ticking a box, then there may not have been enough options, if they were able to write there response in there own words then that would be more accurate. If the people doing the study were not actively trying to lose weight then of course 25 calories will make no difference to their moods. they can go home and fill up on more food afterwards.

Anyway, I hope the study (and others supporting it) can come forward as I'd hate to see the show pushing a product on it's loyal viewers by telling them that it will help them achieve their goals.

If anyone finds the full study, please place a link in the comments section below.

Some wisdom we can all live by:

I've Learned

Author unknown

I've learned that you cannot make someone love you. All you can do is be some that can be loved. The rest is up to them.
I've learned that no matter how much I care, some people just don't care back.
I've learned that it takes years to build up trust, and only seconds to destroy it.
I've learned that it's not what you have in your life, but who you have in your life that counts.
I've learned that you shouldn't compare yourself to the best others can do.
I've learned that you can do some thing in an instant that will give you heartache for life.
I've learned that it's taking me a long time to become the person I want to be.
I've learned that you should always leave loved ones with loving words. It may be the last time you see them.
I've learned that you can keep going long after you can't.
I've learned that we are responsible for what we do, no matter how we feel. That either you control your attitude or it controls you.
I've learned that heroes are the people who do what has to be done regardless of the consequences.
I've learned that money is a lousy way to keep score.
I've learned that my best friend and I can do anything or nothing and have the best time.
I've learned that just because someone doesn't love you the way you want them to doesn't mean they don't love you with all they have.
I've learned that maturity has more to do with what types of experiences you've had and what you've from them and less to do with how many birthdays you've celebrated.
I've learned that you should never tell a child their dreams are unlikely or outlandish. Few things are more humiliating, and what a tragedy it would be if they believed it.
I've learned that no matter good a friend is, they're going to hurt you every once in a while and you must forgive them for that.
I've learned that no matter how bad your heart is broken the world doesn't stop for your grief.
I've learned that our background and circumstances may have influenced who we are, but we are responsible for who we become.
I've learned that even when you think you have no more to give, when a friend cries out to you, you will find the strength to help.

I just come across this story in todays Sunday Telegraph

_________________________________________________________________________

Airline 'fat tax' call

OBESE airline passengers should be forced to pay a "fat tax" to cover the cost of transporting their excess weight, according to a controversial proposal by health experts.

Calls for the tax - which would be determined per extra kilo, in the same way as excess baggage - come as obesity rates and fuel prices surge to new highs in Australia.

But the radical proposal has also attracted a backlash from those who argue it discriminates against people with weight problems.

Passengers are routinely charged hundreds of dollars for excess baggage and sports equipment, but their own weight is not measured.

Dr John Tickell, an Australian expert in nutrition and weight-control, believes obese passengers should be liable for a penalty.

"If you are going to charge for excess baggage, then charge fat people for excess weight,'' he told The Sunday Telegraph.

"Airlines are buying fuel, and if you are carrying a heavy weight on a plane you have to pay more for it. But, instead, the rest of the public is paying for it. It's got to be restricted.''

Budget airline Jetstar has fitted extra-wide seats to cater for the expanding size of customers, who have the option of buying two seats, or upgrading, if the space is too small.

"Flight attendants in the US have to go down the aisle handing extension seatbelts out like headphones,'' Dr Tickell added. "And it's starting to happen here, too.''

Dr Tickell told of being charged $100 to check-in golf clubs on a flight, despite an obese passenger outweighing him and his golf clubs.

Airlines are being forced to revise their projected passenger loads to calculate extra fuel needs.

The Civil Aviation Safety Authority bans obese people from sitting in emergency exit rows on flights, as they could block other passengers from evacuating in an emergency.

But Obesity Society chief Dr Tim Gill believes obese people should not be singled out for penalties.

"Obesity is something airlines are taking very seriously, primarily because higher passenger loads affect their fuel consumption,'' he said.

"But I think it would be inappropriate to put all the burden of those issues back on people who have the problem and to say you have to lose weight or buy two seats.

"It's not fair to single out those people who have a problem, which is already impacting greatly on their life, and make them feel like pariahs.''

He suggested installing a few extra-large economy seats on each flight to cater for obese passengers.

Jetstar spokesman Simon Westaway said airlines were monitoring changes in the population's weight.

Adriano "Adro'' Sarnelli, a former winner of Network Ten program The Biggest Loser - who lost more than 50kg - is against introducing a fat tax.

"It's hard enough that they carry that extra weight, physically and emotionally,'' he said.

I've spent the past couple of days setting up some calculators on my personal training site. So far I have:

BMI - Body Mass Index

BMR - Basal Metabolic Rate, is a measure of how many calories your body needs at rest

TMR - Total Metabolic Rate, is a measure of how many calories your body needs including your activity

Target Heart Rate - Enter the percentage you wish to exercise in and it'll tell you what your heart rates should be

Calories Burned - This will tell you how many calories you'll burn during a certain activity

Waist-to-Hip - is a measure of suscepability to heart disease

12 Week Planner - The 12 Week Planner is a tool to help you progressively increase your training load so you won't plateau

Heart Disease Risk - Answer the questions and you'll be told what your risk of heart disease is

Ideal Weight - This is a tool that will give you a general range on what your upper and lower weight limits should be, based on your BMI.

You can see them at http://www.RayKellyFitness.com  

There'll be more soon!

I know it seems like we always have to wait long periods to see a doctor, but I came across a web site recently that shows just how lucky we are compared with some other countries. You can check it out here

Quite interesting!