Food Variety and Your Body Weight

Over the past 65 years, the number of food items available to the general public has increasd by about 4000 percent, and some experts link this increase in variety with our current epidemics of overweight and obesity. Some research suggests that enhanced variety may in fact stimulate overeating, but that such intakes are compensated for by reduced consumption at subsequent meals. However, a new investigation reveals that increases in variety of some food types and decreases in variety of other edibles are associated with good long-term weight management.

Is Sugar Not-So-Sweet for Weight Loss?

Sugar consumption has increased by about 50 percent over the last 25 years, and some experts contend that the rise in sugar eating and the upswings in overweight and obesity are tightly linked. Research has not always supported this hypothesis, but new inquiries link high consumption rates of sugar-sweetened soft drinks with increased risk of overweight and type-2 obesity. There is some evidence that the substitution of artificially sweetened beverages for sugary drinks can lead to weight loss.

Can Chitosan Cut Caloric Consumption?

Chitosan is a proven blocker of fat absorption across the wall of the small intestine, and so it has been marketed successfully as a weight-loss supplement. Unfortunately, the evidence that chitosan supplementation can lead to significant weight loss is very weak. It is clear that a reduction in fat absorption does not necessarily lead to a leaner body.