Weight Depends On When You Eat As Much As What You Eat, Claims Research

Weight may depend as much on when you eat as what, research suggests.
The body clock's effect on metabolism could be an overlooked factor driving obesity, say scientists.
New evidence from studies of mice suggests that 24-hour snacking, especially at night, can pile on the pounds.
Restricting eating to sensible meal times, on the other hand, may help fight the flab - even with big helpings.
Researchers compared mice fed the same amount of high-fat food round the clock or over a period of eight hours.
The mice given a restricted time in which to eat were protected against obesity, and also suffered less liver damage and inflammation.
Lead scientist Dr Satchidananda Panda, from the Salk Institute for Biological Studies in the US, pointed out that every organ has a "clock".
Livers, intestines and muscles worked at peak efficiency at certain times and were more or less sleeping at others.
These metabolic cycles were critical for a wide range of biological processes, from cholesterol breakdown to glucose production.
"When we eat randomly, those genes aren't on completely or off completely," said Dr Panda.
He added there was evidence that eating patterns had changed, with people having greater access to food and reasons to stay up late, for instance to watch TV. When people were awake, they tended to snack.
The timing of food consumption should be given more consideration by obesity experts, said Dr Panda.
"The focus has been on what people eat," he said. "We don't collect data on when people eat."
The research is published in the journal Cell Metabolism.

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Experts Say Eating Eggs May Produce 'Satiety Hormone'

Eating eggs for breakfast is more effective at preventing hunger for overweight people than having cereal, according to new research.
The study, funded by the American Egg Board, found that the consumption of eggs reduced hunger and boosted hormones that made people feel full.
A group of 20 people were split in two, with half given an egg breakfast and half given a cereal breakfast. Three hours later they were given lunch to test their hunger.
Dietician Dr Carrie Ruxton said: "This study adds to a growing evidence base which suggests that eggs may indeed be nature's appetite suppressant.
"Previous studies have found that eating eggs at breakfast or at lunch reduces feelings of hunger and helps people to eat fewer calories at a later meal.
"The new research provides information on hormone levels for the first time, showing that consumption of eggs boosts PYY, a potent satiety hormone, while reducing levels of the hunger hormone ghrelin.
"The high protein level of eggs, combined with their low fat content, means that eggs are a great choice for those trying to manage their weight."
The study was carried out at the Pennington Biomedical Research Centre in Louisiana, USA.

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Keeping Your Diet A Secret Helps Prevent Failure, Say Experts

If you want your calorie counting to be a success, keep your diet plans a secret, warn experts.
Researchers from New York University found that keeping your diet a secret is the best way to maintain willpower, and that those who share their weight-loss goals with others are more likely to fail.
The study found that the positive reaction people receive when discussing their diet can be interpreted as accomplishment before they've reached their goal weight. Therefore, dieters are more likely to slack than those who keep regime to themselves.
"The danger is that you feel that you've already reached the goal and because of that, you don't have to act on it anymore," says professor of psychology Dr Peter Gollwitzer from the study.
The solution? "You can keep your mouth shut," advises Dr. Gollwitzer. "Another one is to form different kinds of intentions, not only say what you want to do but also when, where and how you want to do it. Or share you plans with a trusted few who can keep you on course."

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