Think Less, Eat Less?

Thinking Hard Makes You Eat More

by J. Foster

"New research shows we are hungrier after doing lots of thinking.

"Caloric overcompensation following intellectual work, combined with the fact that we are less physically active when doing intellectual tasks, could contribute to the obesity epidemic currently observed in industrialized countries," (via ScienceDaily)

The research (published in Psychosomatic Medicine) engaged 14 female participants in 3 separate 45 minute tasks. After each task the participants were invited to eat as much as they wanted from a buffet.

Results

1. Resting in a sitting position (control).
2. Reading a document and writing a summary - consumed 203 more calories than (1) - representing a 23.6% increase.
3. Performing a battery of computerized tests - consumed 253 more calories than (1) - representing a 29.4% increase.

Take this one to your employer as a suggestion for a new health policy. Forget about a radical new weight loss regime -- just sit down and relax. Or better still - market "relaxing" as a new kind of appetite suppressant."

The article above was copied from the "Diet Blog" RSS feed I got today. It doesn't tell me anything I don't already know. Just today, a colleague complained that she feels sick from eating so poorly since the school year began. The healthy eating regimen we embraced by August after reeling from a hectic and stressful school year in a toxic work environment has been compromised by Hornet muffins (my school's version of "Egg McMuffins" only with sausage or bacon instead of lean Canadian bacon), school chili and Fritos with cheese, grilled cheese sandwiches, fresh veggies with ranch and peanut butter, Pepsi Max, too much coffee, and the list could get uglier by November after lavish PTO catered dinners on parent-teacher conference nights. I witness people who normally watch what they eat load up on a plate of desserts that would feed a family of four. Besides being soooo good, most teachers are no doubt feeding the stress of being there, meeting with parents and struggling to be diplomatic about the fact that Johnny's grade is impacted by the child not doing anything once he walks out of the classroom doors.....
Lots of people, mostly women, eat to fill something that's missing in our soul; some sort of void that we have trouble filling with the things we really need, like rest, like being able to concentrate on maybe just two things at a time instead of seven, like getting something done before moving on to the sound of a bell that dictates what we do throughout the day. A friend once showed me the breathing exercise her shaman taught her to do when she's stressed. I wonder what the kids would do if I closed my eyes, took a deep breath and loudly hummed through my nose until I ran out of air. Might be more entertaining than popping Skittles!