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Archive for category Nutrition and obesity

Women eat less when dining with men

Aug 11

Posted by Morten in Food service | Comments off

A woman’s choice of food is influenced by the gender of her dining companions, according to a new study published in Appetite. MResearchers at McMaster University in Canada observed 469 students as they ate in university cafes.

Two women eating together consumed an average of 665 calories each, but for a male and female pair the woman opted for just over 550 calories. When women dined in larger groups without men, their calorie consumption edged higher to almost 800. Men seem to eat the same amount regardless of their dining partners; a little over 715 calories on average.

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California’s Calorie Disclosure Law Goes into Effect

Aug 10

Posted by Morten in Food marketing | Comments off

California has become the first state to require chain restaurants to provide brochures listing calories, sodium, saturated fat, and carbohydrates for each menu item at their stores. Both sit-down and drive-through restaurants with more than 20 outlets in the state must comply.

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Direct and powerful link between TV food advertising and calories consumed

Aug 10

Posted by Morten in Food marketing | Comments off

In a series of experimental studies, Rudd Center researchers found that TV food advertisements increased automatic snacking by children and adults.

In the experiments, children and adults exposed to the advertising snacked more on available food, even if it was not specifically presented in the ads. The findings appear in the July issue of Health Psychology.

“This research shows a direct and powerful link between television food advertising and calories consumed by adults and children,” said Dr. Harris. “Food advertising triggers automatic eating, regardless of hunger, and is a significant contributor to the obesity epidemic. Reducing unhealthy food advertising to children is critical.”

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Exercise matters long after cancer diagnosis

Aug 6

Posted by Morten in Nutrition and obesity | Comments off

753 men and women, all at least 65 years old, who had survived 5 or more years after a cancer diagnosis were interviewed. All were overweight to some degree, but none was morbidly obese.

When the interviewers asked about exercise, diet, weight status, and quality of life, they found that half the group got no more than 10 minutes of moderate-to-vigorous exercise per week, and only 7% had healthful eating habits.

Those who exercised more and had better diet quality also had better physical quality of life outcomes (e.g., better vitality and physical functioning) than those who exercised less and ate poorly. Also, the greater the body weight, the poorer the physical quality of life.

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Five Low Cost Ways To Prevent Cancer

Aug 6

Posted by Morten in Nutrition and obesity | Comments off

1. Exercise daily

2. Eat more fruits and veggies

3. Avoid tobacco.

4. Practice sun-safety

5. Get regular check-ups

Read more on medical news today.

The Food Industry Agrees: Food Labels are Misleading

Aug 6

Posted by Morten in Food labeling | Comments off

According to The International Food Information Council, these are the top 3 “challenges” consumers face with the nutrition panel:
1. Misleading serving size.
2. Consumers do not consider their consumption of foods and beverages in the context of their daily intake. This is also true, as 63% of consumers do not know what their daily calorie intake should be. Do you know yours?
3. Consumers do not realize information to help them interpret daily context exists on nutrition panels.

The recommendations are:
1. Clarify serving size.
2. Call attention to daily intake.
3. Increase trustworthiness.

Hemi from fooducate also mentions the top 4 influences on a purchase decision as:
1. Taste
2. Price
3. Healthfulness
4. Convenience

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Almost all you need to know about Dietary Fibre and Health

Aug 6

Posted by Morten in Whole grains | Comments off

British Nutrition Foundation has made a special issue of the Nutrition Bulletin on dietary fibre and health. It’s available for free.  You can therefore access the following 6 articles without using your creditcard:

Dietary fibre: an evolving definition?
Victoria Betteridge

Review: Dietary fibre and health: an overview
Judy Buttriss, Caroline Stokes

Carbohydrates and dietary fibre
Joanne Lunn, JL Buttriss

Review: Dietary fibre and the gut microbiota
Karen Scott, Sylvia Duncan, Harry Flint

Dietary fibre and satiety
Joanne Slavin, Hilary Green

Health properties of resistant starch
Anne Nugent

Whole grains and health: perspective for Asian Indians

Aug 4

Posted by Morten in Whole grains | Comments off

Grains are the most important food source of Indian population, due to this carbohydrate consumption constitute approx. 60-70% of total food intake. Grains have shown to have a role in prevention and reducing the risk of type 2 diabetes, coronary heart disease, cancer and obesity.

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Questionnaire for estimating whole-grain cereal intake

Aug 4

Posted by Morten in Whole grains | Comments off

To estimate WG cereal intake, researchers developed a forty-three-item FFQ focused on cereal product intake over the past month. It was then validated. The new questionnaire appears to give a rapid and adequate estimate of WG cereal intake in free-living subjects.

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Influence of Whole Grains on Short-term Satiety and Energy Intake

Aug 4

Posted by Morten in Whole grains | Comments off

This study compared the effect of whole grain high-fiber barley, whole grain wheat and refined rice based foods on energy intake and satiety. Forty-seven healthy subjects consumed a breakfast of hot cereal and a snack mix containing either barley, wheat, or refined rice, followed by an ad libitum smorgasbord lunch using a crossover design. Energy intake was measured at the lunch using plate waste. Hunger, fullness, desire to eat, amount of food consumed, and thirst were assessed using a modified visual analog scale (VAS) before and after the breakfast, snack and lunch. Energy intake at lunch did not differ among products.

In conclusion, intake of a whole grain high-fiber barley, whole grain wheat, or refined rice breakfast and snack did not decrease energy intake acutely, but consumption of whole grain high-fiber barley foods significantly decreased hunger whereas whole wheat and refined rice foods did not.

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