Obesity has become a growing problem. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has reported that obesity is a national epidemic across the United States and a major contributor to some of the leading causes of death, which include heart disease, stroke, diabetes and some types of cancer. News that in the fight against obesity it might be helpful to simply eat slower has been of interest to many people in Syracuse who have been searching for safe and effective natural manners to prevent and treat obesity.
Nutrition Horizon has reported "Researcher Provides Further Evidence that Slow Eating Reduces Food Intake." Researchers have discovered there is a close association between eating rate and body mass index (BMI), with individuals with a high BMI generally eating considerably faster than those with a low BMI. Kathleen Melanson, an associate professor of nutrition at the University of Rhode Island, has noted that fast eating may be related to greater energy needs, since men and heavier people who were found to eat faster than others have higher energy needs.
Melanson was particularly intrigued by the finding that the test subjects consumed a meal of whole grains, made up of whole grain cereal and whole wheat toast, significantly slower than when eating a similar meal of refined grains. She commented that "Whole grains are more fibrous, so you have to chew them more, which takes more time."
It is the position of Melanson that when considering eating rate, eating techniques should also be considered. Although the actual link between eating rate and obesity is still being studied, Melanson has said that her research has demonstrated that eating slowly results in significantly fewer average calories being consumed. So do yourself a favor and enjoy eating more slowly to help keep off those extra calories.
Photographer: Ambro
