Kids who eat two breakfasts are less likely to be overweight than those who eat none

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7 Tips for Overcoming Food Addiction

donutsThis advice from Ocean Recovery  is not intended to replace the need to seek out professional help. Unlike an addiction to drugs or alcohol, people addicted to food cannot just go ‘cold turkey.’ This is because food is essential for survival. Therefore, it’s essential that you work hard to redefine your relationship with food.

Here’s some tips for improving your relationship with food:

Tip #1: Invest in your knowledge of healthy eating

This is my #1 tip for losing weight and eating more healthy.

Clever tricks to cut down on the amount of food you eat is not as effective as learning about low carb, low calories and high nutrient eating.

I’ve just waded through my personal collection of books on healthy eating and I’ve included links below where you can purchase these books:

#2. Avoid sugar

If sugar has been identified as the most addictive food type, then it naturally follows that sugar must be avoided at all cost.

I also urge you to avoid fructose.

That means many common fruits are off the menu, such as bananas, apples and oranges.

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Fitness social networks can help your work out more

social groupWhen people join a fitness social network, they exercise 100 percent more than those who work out without online buddies, according to new research from the University of Pennsylvania, Shape magazine reports.

Seeing how often others with the same goals are exercising and what they’re doing builds a competitive spirit that motivates you to exercise more, says lead study author Damon Centola, Ph.D.

For inspiration, join the Daily Herald Fittest Loser community on Facebook atwww.facebook.com/TheFittestLoserDH.

Or if you have a Fitbit or Jawbone, tap into those built-in communities. Or download a free app such as ActiveX, which lets you join a group of like-minded exercisers.

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The causes of food addiction

kid eatingOcean Recovery,a full-service residential rehabilitation centre, shared the following information about food addiction/ While the exact cause of food addiction is unknown, scientists claim the disorder is probably caused by a complex combination of genetics, the sufferer’s social environment andemotions.

 #1. Genetic factors

The link between genetics and food addiction is well established.

For instance, scientists have located a mutation in the hypothalamus that could cause food addiction.

The hypothalamus is the region of the brain that controls appetite.

Scientists believe a mutation could cause the hypothalamus to send faulty and too frequent hunger signals causing the person to overeat.

Other studies say people who are susceptible to food addiction have fewer dopamine receptors in their brain.

Thus, it is claimed, these people need to eat more food in order to reach a point of satisfaction.

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Routine self-weighing may help you lose pounds

scaleAmerican Heart Association News reports that people who are trying to lose weight and frequently weigh themselves report feeling better equipped to handle certain situations that could trigger them to overeat, according to a study presented at the American Heart Association’s Epidemiology/Lifestyle 2016 Scientific Sessions.

Researchers analyzed information from a 12-month behavioral weight-loss intervention study, which grouped 148 people according to self-weighing patterns: high/consistent, meaning they weighed themselves at least six days a week consistently throughout the period; moderate/declined, which means they decreased their weigh-ins from four to five days a week to two days per week; minimal/declined, decreased their weigh-ins from five to six days per week to zero days per week.

The study also assessed the participant’s self-efficacy at six and 12 months, where they rated their confidence to avoid eating under various conditions, including when they had negative emotions, availability (when food is available), social pressure, physical discomfort and positive activities.

The higher the total score and score for each condition, the greater their self-efficacy rating.

The high/consistent group had significant increases in all five conditions and the total score. The other two groups had no change over time.

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Americans eat a lot of processed food

processed foodsMore than half of all calories consumed in the U.S. come from “ultra-processed” foods, which can contribute to serious health complications like obesity and heart disease, new research finds.

Ultra-processed foods are products that contain several manufactured ingredients that are not generally used when cooking from scratch, CBS reports.

Some examples of ultra-processed foods include soft drinks; sweet or savory packaged snacks; packaged baked goods; chicken or fish nuggets and other reconstituted meat products, and instant noodles and soups.

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Decline in dementia offers ‘cautious hope’

seniorsA report in a recent issue of the New England Journal of Medicine offered a few words of encouragement concerning dementia rates.

Researchers from a long-standing Framingham study found that the rate of dementia has declined over the course of three decades.

Framingham researchers had been studying more than 5,000 men and women since 1975. The participants had physical exams, including tests for dementia every five years.

The researchers determined that the five-year rate of dementia was 3.6 percent between 1982 and 1986; 2.8 percent between 1991 and 1996; 2.2 percent between 1998 and 2003; and 2.0 percent between 2009 and 2013. Moreover, the average age when dementia was diagnosed increased from 80 to 85 over the 30 years.

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Greater Risk of Depression in Obese Women

 

obeeseEven with higher education, women with a body mass index (BMI) of 30-34.9 (obese I) have double the risk of depression compared with women of normal weight and same educational attainment, according to a new study conducted by a sociologist at Rice University.

The study was published this month by the journal Obesity Research and Clinical Practice.

The researchers used the standard weight categories: normal weight (BMI 18.5-24.9), overweight (BMI 25-29.9), obese I (30-34.9), obese II (35-39.9) and obese III (BMI greater than 39.9). They found similar results for obese II and III participants; however, not enough participants were available for statistical validation. The BMI classifications are related to body-fat levels and predict the likelihood of developing obesity–related health problems.

“Previous research has shown an association of depression and obesity with low education, but we’re showing it also exists with women who have higher education as well,” said Ashley Kranjac, lead author and Rice postdoctoral fellow in population health in Rice’s Department of Sociology and Rice’s Kinder Institute for Urban Research. “I was surprised by the finding. Usually higher education is associated with all the good things, like higher income, better neighborhoods, greater access to health care and better overall health, and you’d never think education and obesity combined could have this effect on mental health.”

The study, “Depression and Body-Mass Index, Differences by Education: Evidence from a Population-based Study of Adult Women in the U.S. Buffalo-Niagara Region,” involved a random sample of 1,928 healthy women ages 35-80. Researchers used New York State Department of Motor Vehicle records and information from the Health Care Finance Association to identify potential participants.

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Binge-watching tough on your eyes

watch tvHave you ever spent an entire day watching “House of Cards” or “Orange is the New Black”?

Such binge watching can take a toll on your eyes, ABC reports.

“Computer screens emit light rays that are out of the visual spectrum that can be very harmful, from a comfort and health standpoint,” said optometrist Dr. Melanie Vardeman.

Many binge watchers suffer from dry eyes, headaches and blurred vision. Vardeman said watching a computer screen for hours may be fun now, but can be harmful in the future.

“It can cause problems like early cataracts as well as macular degeneration,” Vardeman said.

Optometrists have something that might help — blue blockers. You put them on and they protect you from the harmful blue light rays.”We would like to see everybody wearing them, everyone from adults and really especially children,” Vardeman said.

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Making a lunchtime workout work

working outDanielle Douglas-Gabriel from the Washington Post writes that it can be one of the most exhilarating things you do during the workday, but nailing the lunchtime workout can be tricky.

Should you eat before or after?

How much should you pack?

Shower? No shower?

And most important, how much exercise can you pack in during a lunch hour?

The good news is that there are all sorts of tricks for getting the most out of your midday workout and several products that make it easier to navigate.

The night before, pack a light bag of just the essentials: a change of underwear, travel-size deodorant and wet wipes if you won’t have time for a shower.

Need to shower no matter what? Consider throwing in a bottle of dry shampoo to cut down the amount of time you spend away from your desk, said Tami DeVitis, an instructor at Vida Fitness in Washington.

She also recommends (if your hair is long enough) wearing a ponytail that requires no maintenance post-workout.

Another way to stay prepared is to keep a pair of sneakers and toiletries in your desk at work. That way, you can just grab what you need and go.

Personal trainer Lee Jordan has noticed clients bringing no more than what can fit into a rolled-up T-shirt. In other words, pack light.

You also should consider arriving at the office a little early just in case it takes you longer than expected to get ready, said DeVitis, who teaches several lunchtime classes.

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