"overeating" news and stories

The more food that is put in front of you, the better the odds are that you will overeat or, at least, eat more than you might otherwise. Generally, this is common knowledge, but some researchers put it to the test by giving people both good and bad tasting foods. Specifically, while one group of participants got varying sizes of freshly popped popcorn, another group was given 2-week old stale popcorn (described as "perfectly safe, just a bit funky"). The results proved the theory, when fresh popcorn eaters ate 43% more popcorn when it was served in a large container and stale popcorn eaters ate 34% more.

If the taste of a food isn't enough to stop people from eating it, it's best to control the size of the container that it's in. So do yourself a favor and use smaller plates and bowls, especially for snacking. Or fill up a bowl with healthy fruits and veggies for munching.

Exact portion size can be difficult to determine without measuring (which is an option), but there's too much variation in all those guidelines that compare portion sizes to, for example, the size of a fist. When in doubt, just take a little less that you think you should. At the very least, you'll be eating one less bite at a time - and over time, even a small change like will add up.

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When we're busy, it can be hard to pull ourselves away from work. Some days it seems to just pile up much faster than we can possibly deal with it. Eating at your desk or in the car can seem like a good way to save a few minutes, but new studies show that working long hours has a negative impact on women's health - especially when it comes to food. And while overworking has an impact on men, it is a greater one on women. Women who work extremely long hours are likely to overeat, craving fatty, sugary, unhealthy snacks more often than any other group, and even stressful events (giving presentations, etc.) can trigger a craving.

But there is an easy solution for anyone, male or female, to controlling emotional eating: think about it. Don't mindlessly reach for another candy bar, but instead take a few minutes to de-stress and evaluate whether you really should eat it.

A survival strategy? Keep a piece (or two or three) of fresh fruit on your desk at all times. That way, even if you give in to the cravings for noshing at your desk, you can polish of a handful or two of grapes before even thinking about heading for the vending machine.

While overeating is something that we can work on, being busy is sometimes a fact of life. Check out our best foods for busy women for a few ideas on how to get through a jam-packed day.

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A recent Newsday story looks at overeating from a neurological perspective, likening it to other forms of addiction. One study cited in the article found that drug abusers and overeaters had similarly low numbers of dopamine receptors, which are partly responsible for feelings of satisfaction and fullness. Other studies have found that some obese people's brain chemistry contributes to heightened feelings of pleasure from food. Experts cited in the article are hesitant to formally categorize overeating as an addiction, however. Still, many feel that examining it from that angle may help develop more effective treatment methods.

A recent Pew Research Center survey of over 2,000 adult Americans found that only 39 percent enjoy eating "a great deal." (That is, they enjoy the act of eating, not eating a lot.) This is 9 percent drop from the results of a 1989 Gallup survey. Many of the people polled in the more recent survey attributed their lack of enjoyment to concerns about their weight. Interestingly enough, the overall figures for enjoyment of cooking have stayed the same. Roughly one third of those surveyed said they enjoyed cooking "a great deal." The number of men that enjoy cooking has increased, however, from 25 percent in 1989 to 32 percent today. The Pew site has plenty of other interesting figures concerning eating patterns, junk food consumption and overeating. A Washington Post story on the survey results is available here.

[Image: Pew Research Center]