Tag Archives: eat

Why Most Diets Fail According to Weight Loss Surgeons—and What to Eat for Success

Posted on by
Reply

Many individuals have attempted to trim their waistlines through calorie counting and frequent gym visits, yet often with little success. So, what’s the underlying issue?

According to Dr. Andrew Jenkinson, a consultant in bariatric surgery at University College London Hospital and author of Why We Eat (Too Much) and How to Eat (and Still Lose Weight), losing weight is less about the quantity of food consumed or the amount of exercise than previously thought.

He suggests that rather than obsessing over calorie counts and relentless gym sessions, a more practical approach to weight loss could be achieved by consuming foods that effectively regulate levels of the hormone leptin.

How does leptin function? What foods should fill your plate? Is there a straightforward way to combat cravings? Dr. Jenkinson addressed these topics in detail during our recent discussion.

BBC Science Focus: What is the global obesity crisis?

AJ: The Western world faces significant issues that are straining healthcare systems. In the U.S., about one-third of the population is considered morbidly obese, impacting their health drastically.

In Europe, the rate is around one-quarter. Many of these individuals face heightened risks of type 2 diabetes, hypertension, sleep apnea, joint problems, and certain cancers.

For the first time in history, life expectancy is declining due to obesity. New treatments, such as injections, are available, but they come at a hefty price.

Millions rely on them, and thus, obesity has become a major economic and health concern that requires urgent attention.

Obesity does not stem solely from the abundance of appealing, high-calorie food. These foods may act similarly to drugs, disrupting normal weight regulation mechanisms.

Wild animal populations face similar biological pathways, yet there’s no evidence that lions become inactive due to an oversupply of antelope.

Is the issue rooted in our hormones?

Yes. Leptin, often termed the ‘satiety hormone,’ is crucial in regulating the weight of wildlife and should ideally function in the same way for humans.

Leptin levels send signals to the brain’s weight control center, located in the hypothalamus. This hormone essentially dictates body weight: when leptin is detected, appetite diminishes and metabolism increases.

Leptin is produced by fat cells, meaning that higher leptin levels should correlate with reduced appetite and increased metabolism.

However, some food types can obstruct leptin signaling. While it’s well-known that sugar, refined carbohydrates, and processed foods contribute to obesity, the root cause isn’t merely their calorie content; it’s how they elevate insulin levels, which in turn inhibits leptin.

When leptin signaling fails, the brain loses track of whether we are overweight or underweight. You might look visibly overweight, but your brain might mistakenly signal that you need to eat more.

It’s akin to driving a vehicle and suddenly noticing the fuel gauge is empty. You panic and refuel, but the tank was never really empty to begin with—the gauge itself was faulty. Similarly, when leptin is blocked, your body undergoes a comparable malfunction.

What significance do calories hold for weight loss?

Calories are essential for survival, acting as energy units stored within plants. Plants predominantly store carbohydrates and energy within their cellular structures.

We utilize this energy for various bodily functions like heat generation, heartbeat, and movement. Interestingly, approximately 70% of the energy we consume is expended at rest, termed basal metabolism, which encompasses immune functions, maintaining body temperature, heart rate, and more.

There’s a common misconception among those who focus exclusively on calorie counts: the body can easily eliminate excess calories. For instance, you could adjust basal metabolism to burn an additional 600-700 calories daily through activity akin to enjoying a lavish three-course meal or engaging in a 10k run.

If you adopt a low-calorie diet, your body can also adapt to this lower intake, ultimately halting weight loss within weeks.

Moreover, while many individuals may overconsume, our bodies respond by increasing basal metabolism, leading to greater energy expenditure. This is a significant factor in the Western epidemic of hypertension, as our bodies heighten blood pressure to manage energy use.

Why do some people find it harder to lose weight than others?

This variation relates to the concept of a weight setpoint or weight anchor. Imagine it as an anchor that keeps a ship tethered to one location—similarly, your weight anchor dictates your body’s weight range.

Your weight anchor could be set within the “overweight” or “obese” zone. Even if you work hard at the gym or adhere to a low-calorie diet, your brain’s weight control center may pull you back to your setpoint.

This anchor is influenced by several factors, many of which you can change, but one is immutable: your genetics.

We all know individuals who remain naturally slim and can indulge in their favorite treats without gaining weight. However, about 25% to 33% of the population carries genes that predispose them to weight gain when exposed to Western dietary habits.

This genetic predisposition is heightened through easy access to sugar, refined carbohydrates, processed foods, fructose, vegetable oils, and more. Unfortunately, much of this unhealthy food is readily available in supermarkets, often overshadowing the fresh produce aisles.

This misunderstanding is prevalent among practitioners who advocate for calorie counting; it overlooks the fundamental principle that the type of food we consume acts on our bodies as a form of medicine.

Read more:

So, what should we be eating?

Remember, it’s about lifestyle changes rather than temporary dieting. Dieting implies short-term calorie restriction. However, if you comprehend how different foods impact your body like medications, you will naturally shed pounds. Avoid sugar, refined carbohydrates, and toxic vegetable oils that adversely affect insulin levels.

Opt for homemade meals, and without much struggle, your weight setpoints will begin to decrease. You may find you lose considerably more weight than through conventional exercise efforts. This doesn’t have to be a struggle or cause frustration.

For instance, you could effortlessly replace unhealthy snacks eaten while watching television with a plate of veggies sprinkled with a bit of salt. It is all about recognizing and transforming unhealthy habits into healthier alternatives.

Initially, giving up sugar or chocolate may trigger cravings. However, these can be managed through a technique called “Crave Surfing,” which involves acknowledging the craving without disregarding it. Focus on it, and you will find that these cravings will ebb and flow, becoming less intense over time.

What role should exercise play in weight loss?

If you can dedicate time to the gym for about an hour and a half, engaging in vigorous activities, you could potentially burn 1000 calories daily. Over six days a week, this can significantly impact your weight.

However, for most, this level of control is unattainable unless you are an athlete. Recommendations for 30 minutes of exercise, 3-4 times a week, have minimal effect on weight loss—you may only shed around 2 kilograms annually.

Just like limiting calories, exercise can enhance metabolism efficiency, causing the body to become more adept at conserving energy.

For example, if you engage in a 30-minute workout and burn about 400 calories, it may leave you feeling hungrier. Unless you maintain exceptional willpower, you are likely to consume those 400 calories back. Instead of burning these calories, your metabolism functions to regulate them.

The way to counter this effect involves a combination of calorie restriction and physical activity for optimal results. Our metabolism cannot typically adjust by more than 600 or 700 kilocalories a day. Hence, if you successfully reduce your intake beyond 1000 calories, weight loss is likely to follow—but it is a challenging task that can lead to fatigue and hunger.

This interview has been edited for clarity and brevity.

About our expert, Dr. Andrew Jenkinson

Andrew is a consultant specializing in obesity (weight loss) and general surgical procedures at University College London Hospital.

He is also the author of Why We Eat (Too Much) and How to Eat (and Still Lose Weight).

Read more about nutrition:

Source: www.sciencefocus.com

Science Reveals What You Should Eat After the Apocalypse

Posted on by
Reply

In the event of a global disaster affecting international trade and fuel supplies, our survival may hinge on a resilient yet practical diet consisting of peas, potatoes, sugar beets, and spinach.

This perspective emerges from a recent study featured in the journal PLOS 1.

The research, conducted by Dr. Matt Boyd of Adapt Research Ltd and Professor Nick Wilson from The University of Otago, New Zealand, examined how cities could sustain themselves amidst scenarios like nuclear conflict, severe pandemics, or significant solar flares that might disrupt global food systems.

These situations could hinder access to vital resources, such as fuel and fertilizers, jeopardizing industrial agriculture and long-distance transportation.

Prior studies have highlighted urban agriculture, including rooftop gardens and community plots, as potential methods to bolster local resilience. However, Boyd and Wilson sought to determine the actual efficacy of these efforts.

They utilized satellite imagery to assess the food production capacity of Palmerston North, a temperate city in New Zealand.

The findings revealed that urban agriculture could sustain only about one-fifth of the city’s population, even under optimal conditions where all suitable urban spaces became gardens.

To fully nourish the city, over 1,140 hectares of farmland would need to be repurposed for food production, along with an extra 110 hectares to cultivate biofuel crops for agricultural machinery in the absence of liquid fuels.

Perhaps the most noteworthy aspect of the study is the proposed diet.

“Every individual requires a specific amount of protein and energy to stave off hunger,” Boyd stated to BBC Science Focus.

“Among the crops we analyzed, peas necessitate minimal land to fulfill one person’s protein and energy requirements when cultivated with urban farming techniques.”

Palmerston North in New Zealand – home to around 90,000 residents – was used to estimate how urban areas and adjacent farmlands could feed a moderately sized city in the aftermath of a global disaster. – Getty

However, Boyd noted that while peas thrive in situations with climates similar to today’s, they may not survive the colder conditions anticipated after a nuclear winter.

This phenomenon occurs when soot from a nuclear explosion blocks sunlight, cooling the planet and resulting in shorter growing seasons and lower average temperatures. In such scenarios, sugar beets and spinach would be more viable options, as both crops are hardy and high in energy content.

Traditional farming methods remain accessible just outside urban areas, assuming limited reliance on nearby land and fuel. Under typical climate conditions, potatoes can efficiently feed people using minimal land.

“However, they are susceptible to frost,” Boyd remarked, which is problematic in nuclear winter conditions.

“When we combine 3% carrots with 97% wheat, we achieve optimal protein and energy levels for wheat. Both wheat and carrots can endure frost and require less liquid fuel than potatoes.”

Fortunately, this doesn’t imply a rigid diet consisting solely of these foods. The study offers a strategy for maximizing the number of people fed with minimal land usage, representing a worst-case scenario dietary plan.

“In practice, it’s likely that a diverse crop mixture would be cultivated,” Boyd explained. “However, when determining what to grow near a city, priority should be given to crops that provide high protein and energy levels.”

The researchers believe their methodology will assist cities globally in evaluating food security and developing land use strategies that enhance resilience. However, cities bounded by large bodies of water or those that are densely populated may need to explore alternative approaches.

“The likelihood of global catastrophes is increasing due to emerging bio threats, geopolitical tensions, and technological advancements,” Boyd cautioned. “Society must be prepared for both the destruction of infrastructure and the aftermath of such events.”

“Our study’s insights suggest that with local government support and proactive measures, cities can adopt localized solutions to enhance resilience.”

About our experts

Matt Boyd founded Adapt Research in 2015, focusing on custom research collaborations with experts. His work centers on analyzing and mitigating significant global risks, along with technology and public health issues. Boyd’s findings are published in peer-reviewed journals, including New Zealand Medical Journal and Public Health Journals in Australia and New Zealand.

Read more:

Source: www.sciencefocus.com

Metamoderator Opens Up About Breakdown Following Exposure to Beheading and Child Abuse: ‘I Couldn’t Eat or Sleep’

Posted on by
Reply

When Solomon* entered the gleaming Octagon Tower in Accra, Ghana, he was embarking on his journey as a meta content moderator. Tasked with removing harmful content from social media, he faced a challenging yet rewarding role.

However, just two weeks into his training, he encountered a much darker side of the job than he had anticipated.

“I initially didn’t encounter graphic content, but eventually, it escalated to images of beheadings, child abuse, bestiality, and more. The first time I saw that content, I was completely taken aback.”




Octagon Building in Accra. Photo: foxglove

“Eventually, I became desensitized and began to normalize what I was seeing. It was disturbing to find myself watching beheadings and child abuse.”

“I’ll never forget that day,” Solomon recounted, having arrived from East Africa in late 2023. “The system doesn’t allow you to skip. You must view it for a minimum of 15 seconds.”

In one particular video, a woman from his homeland cried for help as several assailants attacked her.

He noted that this exposure was increasingly unsettling. One day there were no graphic videos, but as a trend emerged, suddenly around 70-80% of the content became graphic. He gradually felt “disconnected from humanity.”

In the evenings, he returned to shared accommodations provided by his employer, the outsourcing firm Telepelforming, where he faced issues related to privacy, water, and electricity.

When Solomon learned of his childhood friend’s death, it shattered his already fragile mental state. He was Broken, feeling trapped in his thoughts, and turned to Telepelforming for a temporary escape until he could regain his composure.

Isolating himself for two weeks, he admitted, “I began to spiral into depression. I stopped eating and sleeping, smoking day in and day out. I was never this way before.”

Solomon tried to take his own life and was hospitalized, where he was diagnosed with major depressive disorder and suicidal ideation. He was discharged eight days later, towards the end of 2024.

Telepelforming offered him a lower-paying position, but he feared it would not suffice to live in Accra. He sought compensation for his distress and long-term psychological care, but instead, Telepelforming sent him back to his hometown amid unrest.

“I feel used and discarded. They treated me like a disposable water bottle,” Solomon expressed after his termination.

He reflected on his past professional life in his home country, saying, “I was content and at peace before coming here.”

Another moderator, Abel*, defended Solomon and shared how he ended his contract in solidarity with fellow employees.

He confronted Telepelforming: “You’re not treating him fairly.”

“They isolated him at home. He felt unsafe being alone, which caused him severe stress, prompting him to return to work.”

Abel also faced mental health struggles stemming from the content. “I was unaware of the nature of the job and the reality of viewing explicit material for work… The first time I encountered blood, I was left numbed.”

He mentioned that colleagues often gathered to sip coffee and discuss disturbing material, even sharing their discomfort.

He hesitated to discuss these issues with wellbeing coaches due to a fear of how his concerns would be perceived by his team leader. He faced challenges when he declined to utilize a wellness service he believed was merely for “research purposes.”

A spokesman for Telepelforming stated: Recognizing his depression following his friend’s death, we conducted a psychological evaluation and found he was unfit to continue in a moderation role.

“We offered a different non-moderating position, which he declined, expressing a desire to remain in his current role. With that not being a viable option, his employment ended, and he was provided compensation per our contractual agreement.

“Throughout his tenure and afterward, we ensured ongoing psychological support. He consistently declined assistance. At the suggestion of his family, help was arranged for him, and upon medical approval, arrangements for a flight to Ethiopia were made.

“We have maintained support for him in Ethiopia, but he has avoided it, instead attempting to pressure Telepelforming for monetary compensation under the threat of public exposure.”

*The name has been changed to protect their identity

Source: www.theguardian.com

Scientists have revealed that the extinct MOA used to eat a vibrant truffle-like fungus

Posted on by
Reply

Paleontologists have discovered ancient DNA and truffle-like fungal spores, including at least one colorful species. Upland More (Megalapteryx didinus) an extinct species of giant flightless bird endemic to New Zealand.

Boast et al. We report ancient DNA and spores from inside two coprolites in the highland MOA (Megalapteryx didinus) that reveals the consumption and possible dispersal of ectomycorrhizal fungi. Image credit: Jiji et al. , doi:10.1098/rsbl.2024.0440.

Fungi like truffles have fruit bodies that never fully open and have no way to expel the spores.

Other fungi do this by wind, but fungi like truffles rely on animals to consume them and disperse their spores.

Overseas, such fungi, including true truffles, are generally monotonous, have a strong aroma, and are very attractive to mammals.

In contrast, New Zealanders are often brightly colored, resembling fallen fruit on the forest floor.

These fungi may have relied on fruit-eating birds for dispersal, but there is little evidence that modern native birds eat them.

Ecologists have long debated that the original disperser must have been an extinct bird, but this has never been demonstrated.

In new research, Dr. Alexander boasts about Manaki.

The specimen was discovered in Hodges Creek Cave, near the Upper Takaka River basin in northwest Nelson and Takaha Valley (TV) in Fiordland on New Zealand’s South Island.

“Previous studies on coprolites have already shown that extinct MOAs ate brightly colored fruits and other plant matter, but new analysis shows that MOAs actually fed on these colorful truffle-like fungal species. ,” the researchers said.

“This discovery adds weight to the idea that these fungi have specifically evolved to be attractive to fruit-eating birds.”

“The MOA would have been good at dispersing fungal spores. Comparisons with its distant cousin The Ostrich, which retains food for about 36 hours after eating it, suggest that the MOA would have carried spores into the intestines over long distances.” It shows that we were able to do it.”

“But given that large birds are going extinct, what if these fungi are driving the dispersal they once depended on?”

“What will ultimately happen to these evolutionary anachronisms? Species that rely on other species to establish and thrive on things that are no longer there?”

“Furthermore, how might this loss affect the resilience and ability of current native forests to regenerate and expand?”

“Remaining species of herbivorous subterranean birds such as Weka are unlikely to compensate for the loss of MOA in dispersing these fungi.”

“In turn, this may have a knock-on effect on overall forest resilience today.”

“Forest species such as beech in New Zealand have evolved symbiotic relationships with native fungi, such as those detected at MoA Poos, benefiting regeneration and resilience, and the native fungi in the mix help improve forest resilience. may decrease.”

team’s paper Published in journal biology letters.

_____

Alexander P. Boasts et al. 2025. Coprolite DNA and spores reveal that the colorful truffle-like fungus endemic to New Zealand was consumed by the extinct MOA (Dinornithiformes). Biol. Lett 21(1):20240440; doi:10.1098/rsbl.2024.0440

Source: www.sci.news

Can this method encourage children to eat their vegetables?

Posted on by
Reply

Bold as a Crucifer

What effect might it have on adolescents and young children to see the positive expressions on the faces of strangers eating raw broccoli?

Katie Edwards of Aston University in the UK, along with colleagues from the same university and the University of Birmingham, also in the UK, set out to find out.

journal appetite The first-hand account of that adventure is Seeing the model's positive facial expression while eating raw vegetables encourages children to accept and consume the model vegetables.” “.

There's no need to mince words about what they found: in their own words, “Contrary to our hypothesis, the facial expression of the model while eating broccoli did not significantly affect their initial willingness to try it.”

Circle of Life

In the 1960s, young intellectuals in the West encouraged each other to adopt the philosophy and path of Zen Buddhism. They were encouraged to “walk the Zen path” and “become one with the universe” in order to live a thoughtful, wise and good life.

Sixty years later, thinking and conversation have advanced.

No alternative to this has been widely adopted in the West in the 2020s, but feedback suggests a Venn diagram.

Like Zen, Venn diagrams aim to provide a simpler understanding of seemingly complex things. Venn diagram masters might describe the practice like this: Venn diagrams use overlapping circles or similar shapes to show logical relationships between different types of items.

Adopt the philosophy and method of the Venn diagram. Recognize and nurture the overlaps in your life. Draw a Venn diagram of the characteristics of all the people, places, and things in your life from birth to the present. The Venn diagram overlaps will reveal commonalities. Embrace them. Identify with the few.

Ven, let's go.

The talent for titration

Psychics, whether trivial or not, have a reputation for being either you get it all or you get nothing. John Hancock tells Feedback about an exception to that, perhaps a partial exception:

He says, “I can consistently pour almost half a 339ml bottle of beer so that the height of the beer in two identical glasses is within 1mm, 2mm at most. I can do this in one go, unassisted, and I seem to know when to stop pouring.”

(Feedback: The name Hancock is well known to Americans. On January 4, 1776, the late John Hancock signed the Declaration of Independence, a document that egged on Britain. Hancock wrote it in such large, bold letters that his name became synonymous with “a man's handwritten signature.” In the U.S., people still say “Sign John Hancock.” The late John Hancock, unlike today's John Hancock, hated doing things by halves.)

Questionable discomfort

A recent addition to Feedback's collection is called “The Title Tells You Everything You Need to Know.”

“The pain one may experience when executed in various ways” probably came as a surprise to magazine readers. Sensing It was published in 1993, and in 1997 Harold Hillman of the University of Surrey in the UK was awarded the Ig Nobel Peace Prize.

If you've come across similarly impressive examples, please submit them to Telltale titles, c/o Feedback, along with citation details.

Teflon Diet

Teflon, prized as a “non-stick” coating for frying pans and other cookware, may become a common additive to foods, especially in weight-control diets.

A study published in 2022 titled “Engineering Properties of Teflon-Derived Blends and Composites: A Review” makes this immediately clear in one slightly enigmatic sentence: “The amount of Teflon reduced the calorie content of the food and satisfactory results were observed that were accepted by the community.“This sentence refers to a paper published in 2016. Journal of Diabetes Science and Technology.

The 2016 paper has an intelligent and intriguing title:Consuming polytetrafluoroethylene is a way to increase food volume and feel full without increasing calorie content.“US authors Rotem Naftalovich, Daniel Naftalovich and Frank Greenway explain that polytetrafluoroethylene (also known as PTFE or Teflon) is a plastic. They claim its benefits: “Animal feeding studies showed that rats fed a diet of 25% PTFE for 90 days showed no signs of toxicity and lost weight.”

They further hypothesized that “incorporating PTFE powder into foods (1 part food to 1 part PTFE) and increasing the portion size of the food would significantly increase satiety and decrease caloric intake.”

Polytetrafluoroethylene “does not impart flavor (as evidenced by its use in tongue piercings) and therefore does not affect the taste of food,” they write, and is “highly inert, meaning it does not react with food in the body.”

This makes it an “ideal ingredient to use as a bulking agent for foods that are not metabolized” and can be used in foods that don't make you feel stuffed.

Do you have a story for feedback?
Send it to feedback@newscientist.com or New Scientist, 9 Derry Street, London, W8 5HY.
Review of mailed items is delayed

You can submit articles for Feedback by emailing feedback@newscientist.com. Please include your home address. This week's and past Feedback can be found on our website.

Source: www.newscientist.com

Reindeer are able to eat and sleep simultaneously

Posted on by
Reply

Reindeer can multitask

gabriella wagner

The reindeer seems to be dozing all day long, ruminating on the cud. This may be an adaptation to their arctic habitat, where food is plentiful in the summer and they must eat constantly to gain enough weight to survive the winter.

Reindeer chew the cud to help break down the fibrous plants that make up their food. That is, it regurgitates food from the stomach back into the mouth for further chewing. And they often stare at each other in a trance-like manner while munching. “You can see it in their faces. They’re a little distant,” he says. gabriella wagner At the Norwegian Institute of Bioeconomy. “However, no one had ever measured reindeer’s brain waves before, so no one knew whether reindeer really slept.”

Wagner and her colleagues used electroencephalography (EEG) with metal electrodes attached to the heads of four Eurasian tundra reindeer.Langifer Tarandus Tarandus), and over the next few days recorded electrical pulses in their brains as they ate, slept and moved around.

The reindeer’s brain wave patterns revealed that when they ruminate, they are in a light sleep stage called non-REM sleep, suggesting that reindeer can recharge while ruminating. “It’s very similar to human sleep; it has the same stages of sleep spindles and slow-wave activity,” Wagner explains of the bursts of brain activity visible on the EEG. They also found that the longer reindeer ruminated, the less they needed additional rest.

Wagner suspects this kind of multitasking might help animals get enough rest during the summer, when they spend almost all their time foraging in preparation for winter. “This seems to be a perfect adaptation to the Arctic, where there is a very short period of the year where they have to eat all the time to gain weight,” she says.

Resting while ruminating may also explain why reindeer appear to sleep the same amount regardless of season, unlike most other species that sleep more in winter.

topic:

Source: www.newscientist.com