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Doctor Lissa

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Dr. Lissa is a healthcare professional with over 30 years experience. From the bedside to the boardroom, she has seen it all, and here she'll help you make sense of your health and the industry built around it.

  

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Showing entries for Category: obesity


Fat? Stop thinking!

September 25, 12:27 AM
by Doctor Lissa, Health Care Examiner
 
 
I think a lot.  And I've been watching my weight lately too.  Until recently, I didn't believe there was a relationship between these two facts, but apparently I was wrong. 

How about you?  Do you think a lot?  Then I bet you're concerned about your weight..  How do I know?  Well, in a study at Laval University in Quebec, scientists found that while the brain is working hard, stress hormones in the body cause blood glucose levels to fluctuate, inducing feelings of hunger.  And as we all know, hunger will not get you into a size 2 of anything. So, if your brain is working hard, it stands to reason that you're hungry.

The interesting thing is that while thinking can make you hungry, thinking really hard can make you hungrier.  That's why people in sedentary, white-collar jobs often gain a lot of weight.  So do college students, who seem to balloon up over night.

In the study, volunteers were given tasks that required deep thought, relaxed thought or no attention whatsoever.  After the tasks, the volunteers were given snacks.  The relaxed subjects nibbled, the moderate thinkers ate considerably more and the deep thinkers ate as if there was no tomorrow!

Most people would agree this is a problem. But it's even worse if you think but never move.  It seems that thinking only consumes 3 more calories than sitting.  Actually, I'm surprised thinking uses up calories at all.   

Well, for every problem there must be a solution.  Are there any role models out there.  Really skinny people who can inspire us to stop thinking and be only mildly interested?  How about  Paris Hilton and Misha Barton?  They look thin.  They must be on to something. 

My recommendation?  If you're truly concerned about your weight,  quit thinking.  It might help to move too, but not so much you tax your brain.  Learn to pay no attention whatsoever and you'll be thinner in no time.  The study didn't say, but you'll probably be happier too.  I wonder if there are calories in happiness?

 

Additional Resources: The source

Topics: health , obesity , Paris Hilton
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