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Maybe it's the spirit of competition. Maybe it's the peer pressure. But a new study suggests partnering up with a buddy to shed some extra pounds after researchers found that people who stay together lose together.

Not unlike the US reality TV show Big Fat Loser, which follows teams of overweight Americans as they shed pounds, a team of US researchers says that weight loss can be "contagious" when undertaken in a competitive, social environment.

Previous studies have also found the opposite can be true: that obesity can likewise be contagious.

The study, published online last week in the journal Obesity, was based on data from a 2009 online weight loss competition in Rhode Island that spanned 12 weeks. About 3,330 overweight and obese participants represented 987 teams averaging 5 to 11 members.

Researchers found that those who lost significant amounts of weight -- defined as at least five percent of their initial body weight -- tended to be on the same teams, while being on a team with more people was also associated with greater weight loss.

Those who reported higher levels of social influence among teammates also increased their odds of achieving increased weight loss by 20 percent.

A 2010 study out of Harvard suggested that having obese friends also increases a person's chance of becoming obese.

Meanwhile, Weightlossbuddy.com was created specifically to help people find a support system in their weight loss endeavor and matches people up online by sex, age, location, interests and the number of pounds to lose.

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Lose more weight by making it a team effort: study

(RTTNews.com) - Researchers from Radboud University Nijmegen, in the Netherlands, have found that women who dine with other women whom they have not previously met are likely to consume only as much food as their dining partner.

This phenomenon, known as mimicry, has previously been documented by researchers who are attempting to discover its causes and effects.

"The aim of our study was to gain insight into one of the possible underlying mechanisms of this modeling effect, namely behavioral mimicry," said researcher R.C.J. Hermans.

"We did not test whether people deliberately or unwittingly mimicked the other's intake. Based on previous research on behavioral mimicry, however, I am likely to say that this is an unconscious process. This assumption is underscored by previous findings of our lab, in which we found that people are generally unaware of the social influences that might affect their food intake," Hermans adds.

For comments and feedback: contact editorial@rttnews.com

http://www.rttnews.com

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Looking To Lose Weight? Try Eating With Someone Else

By Laura Clark

Last updated at 2:03 AM on 15th February 2012

Teenage girls are regularly skipping breakfast and lunch because they want to lose weight, a major survey of children’s lifestyles has revealed.

Nearly a third of 14 and 15-year-olds often miss breakfast, one in five skip lunch and up to one in 12 routinely goes without either.

The numbers missing meals has nearly doubled in a generation, according to the survey which was first conducted in the 1980s.

Teenage girls, image on left posed by model, are shunning protein and dairy foods in an apparent effort to keep as thin as celebrity role models, such as Kate Moss

The findings suggest that Jamie Oliver’s healthy school meals drive is having little impact on young girls whose desire to be thin puts them off lunches altogether.

But the study, from a respected research body, also suggests that children’s eating habits generally are becoming healthier.

 

Youngsters are less likely to eat crisps, sweets, chocolate, sugar-coated cereals and chips and more likely to eat vegetables than they were just 10 years ago, it emerged.

For the study, the Exeter-based Schools Health Education Unit surveyed 83,000 10 to 15-year-olds about their lifestyles in 2010.

Body image: Teenage girls can be obsessed with their weight

The findings were compared with results from as early as 1983, giving a database of answers from 750,000 young people.

Asked about their breakfast on the day of the poll, 31 per cent of girls in year 10 - aged 14 and 15 - admitted eating nothing at all.

Twenty-four per cent of 12 and 13-year-old girls had skipped it while 12 per cent of 10 and 11-year-olds had also gone without.

At the same time, 18 per cent of older girls and 14 per cent of 12 and 13-year-olds skipped lunch the day before.

Some eight per cent had eaten neither breakfast nor lunch the previous day.

The proportion claiming to have missed lunch had nearly doubled since 1986.

Just 10 per cent of year 10 girls skipped lunch 25 years ago.

Meanwhile figures dating back to 1991 show how increasing numbers of youngsters want to lose weight.

Sixty per cent of older girls wanted to lose weight in 2010, against 50 per cent 20 years ago.

Claire Rick, a spokesman for the School Food Trust, said skipping lunch had an impact on how pupils perform in lessons.

‘Skipping lunch doesn’t just leave pupils feeling hungry and tired - it really does affect their performance in the classroom,’ she said.

‘Our research shows that children are far more able to concentrate and focus with their teachers after a healthy meal at lunchtime, and we hear from schools all the time about the impact of better food for children’s behaviour at school.

‘That’s why it’s so important that the school dining room is a place where pupils want to spend their lunchtimes, and that we continue working on all of the factors that will encourage more pupils to opt for a healthy school lunch.’

 

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Teenage girls skip breakfast in order to lose weight

If you’re trying to control your weight, frequent restaurant meals are usually the first to be banished. A wise decision, since many restaurants serve up high-calorie foods in large portions. Consider that a typical steak dinner – with the works – has 1,000-plus calories and a plate of seafood pasta can deliver as many as 1,200 calories (before the bread!). Even an entrée salad with chicken can have 800 calories or more.

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Indeed, many studies have shown that people who eat out often consume more calories and fat and carry more body fat than folks who routinely eat meals prepared at home.

But according to a recent study published in the Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior, frequent restaurant eating doesn’t have to make you gain weight. The results suggest it’s possible to eat out and, believe it or not, even lose a few pounds.

For the study, researchers from the University of Texas at Austin enrolled 35 healthy perimenopausal women, aged 40 to 59, who ate out at least three times a week. Nineteen were placed in a six-week program called Mindful Restaurant Eating that helps develop skills to reduce calorie and fat intake when dining out. The remaining 16 women did not participate in the program and served as the control group.

Women in the prevention group attended six weekly, two-hour sessions. Each session included discussions on managing weight, weekly goals, eating-out strategies and mindful eating meditation. That mediation involved exercises aimed at becoming aware of hunger and satiety and helping appreciate the sight, smell and texture of food in order to increase satisfaction with smaller portions.

The focus was not on losing weight but rather preventing weight gain, an important goal for women during the perimenopausal years when extra weight tends to accumulate around the abdomen, increasing the risk of heart disease and Type 2 diabetes.

That said, women enrolled in the Mindful Restaurant Eating program lost an average of 3.7 pounds and 1.2 inches from their waists after six weeks. There was no change in body weight or waist circumference among women in the control group.

The number of times each week women ate out in restaurants did not change, indicating they were successfully able to manage their weight while continuing their usual, frequent eating-out patterns. Women who completed the program reduced their daily intake by 297 calories, about half accounted for during eating out. Fewer calories were also eaten at home.

The bottom line: With a series of strategies, it is possible to control and manage what and how much you eat in restaurants. But without a game plan, it’s easy to eat more – and gain weight – without intending to.

Start by doing your homework. Many restaurants post nutrition numbers and other healthy eating tips on their websites. It’s useful information that can help you decide what to order.

I’m willing to bet if you knew in advance that the Keg’s Crème Brulée packs in 825 calories, you’d resist the temptation. Knowing that Swiss Chalet’s full rack of BBQ ribs has 1,300 calories – and 900 milligrams of sodium – might prompt you to order a half rack.

Be assertive when dining out. If you don’t know what’s in a dish or don’t know the serving size, ask. The following tips will help you make healthier choices in restaurants.

To cut fat, especially saturated fat:

• When ordering grilled meat, fish or chicken, ask that it be grilled without butter or oil.

• Choose tomato-based pasta dishes rather than creamy ones. Alfredo and rosé sauces are made with whipping cream, which delivers a hefty amount of saturated fat.

• Stick with broth-based soups instead of cream-based soups and chowders. To increase your intake of fibre-rich legumes, choose minestrone, lentil and bean soups most often.

• Order sandwiches made with whole grain bread instead of white bread or high-fat croissants.

• Order steamed vegetables, green salad, or steamed brown rice instead of French fries.

• Ask for salsa with a baked potato instead of butter, sour cream, cheese or bacon.

• Watch out for healthy-sounding salads. Entrée salads laden with cheese, bacon and plenty of dressing can have more fat and calories than an all-dressed burger.

• Request lower-fat items even if they’re not on the menu – fat-reduced salad dressings, salsa for a baked potato, or berries for dessert.

To reduce sodium:

• Stay clear of menu items described as pickled, marinated, smoked, barbequed, smothered (in sauce), teriyaki, soy sauce, broth, miso, gravy, bacon, and of course, salted or salty. These words indicate higher sodium meals.

• Order dressings, gravies and condiments on the side. Salad dressings, barbecue sauce, ketchup, mustard and pickles can add considerably to the sodium content of a meal. Request them separate from your meal and use them sparingly. You’ll save calories too.

• If ordering pizza, skip the processed meat toppings and order half the usual amount of cheese.

• Request your meal to be prepared without added salt, MSG or sodium-containing ingredients such as soy sauce and broths.

To slim down portion size

• Ask that half your meal be boxed up “to go” before you start eating. If you leave it sitting on your plate you’ll be more likely to eat it.

• Order two appetizers, or an appetizer and a side salad, instead of a large entrée. Consider sharing an entrée.

• Cut down on starchy side dishes. Skip the bread if the meal comes with rice, potato or pasta. Ask for extra vegetables instead of the potatoes or rice. Order a half-portion of pasta.

• Slow your pace. After every bite, put down your knife and fork and chew your food thoroughly.

• Stop eating when you feel satisfied, not full. It takes 20 minutes for your brain to get the signal that your stomach has had enough food.

Leslie Beck, a Toronto-based dietitian at the Medcan Clinic, is on CTV’s Canada AM every Wednesday. Her website is lesliebeck.com.

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Yes, you can eat out and lose weight

By Mimi Nguyen Ly
Epoch Times Staff Created: February 14, 2012 Last Updated: February 14, 2012

Study finds that having a high-calorie breakfast with a dessert may help to lose weight. (Sandra Shields/The Epoch Times)

A new study suggests that having a sweet dessert as part of a full breakfast in the morning helps dieters lose more weight and keep it off.

For 32 weeks, researchers from Tel Aviv University in Israel randomly gave 193 obese, non-diabetic adults one of two diets every day, both of which have an identical calorie-count. Men were given 1,600 calories and women 1,400 calories per day.

However, the first group received a low-carbohydrate diet with a 300-calorie breakfast, while the second group had a 600-calorie breakfast rich in carbohydrates and proteins, which included a dessert item such as chocolate.

Participants in both groups lost about 33 pounds (15 kg) on average per person halfway through the study. But in the second half of the study, participants in the low-carbohydrate group regained an average of 22 pounds (10kg) each, while those in the big-breakfast group lost a further 15 pounds (7 kg) each. At the end of the study, the big-breakfast group lost on average 40 pounds (18 kg) more per person than the low-carbohydrate group.

“The participants in the low carbohydrate diet group had less satisfaction, and felt that they were not full” despite taking in the same amount of calories a day, as they had more intense cravings for sugars and carbohydrates and consequently cheated on their diet plan, which explains the weight gain, researcher Daniela Jakubowicz said in a press release.

“But the group that consumed a bigger breakfast, including dessert, experienced few if any cravings for these foods later during the day,” she added.

Jakubowicz says that having a higher proportion of calories for breakfast works because it alleviates cravings and improves body function.

Having a high-calorie breakfast boosts metabolism, which is important for weight loss and maintenance. Breakfast time is also when metabolism is most active and we can work off the extra calories throughout the day better.

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Want to Lose Weight? Try Dessert for Breakfast

CHARLOTTE, NC (WBTV) - The idea comes straight from France where the waistlines have long been sought-after by Americans.

The Fork It weight loss plan uses the concept of light eating late in the day to melt pounds, or so it says.

The plan suggests eating like a king at breakfast using any utensils you'd like. Lunchtime should be a lighter meal or "eat like a Prince". Dinnertime is where the only real restrictions come in, eat like a pauper and only using a fork.

The idea bans fingers, spoons and knives after 6pm and meals should only be foods naturally eaten with a fork. Fish, whole grains and pastas are suggested under the Fork It plan.

We took the concept to Charlotte nutrition counselor Nettie Reeves. She says it might work, but only if used as a tool to teach, and not as a diet.

"I think they more or less listen to their stomachs, we listen a lot to our heads when it comes to food," Reeves said of the concept that Americans simply eat too much.

For more information on the Fork It plan, check out http://www.forkit.com

Copyright 2012 WBTV. All rights reserved.

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Lose weight by using a fork?

Newswise — It’s been more than one month since the new year and swimsuit season is lurking on the horizon – how are those weight-loss resolutions working out?

“Losing weight is one of the top resolutions made every year, yet only 20 percent of people achieve successful weight-loss and maintenance,” says Jessica Bartfield,MD, internal medicine who specializes in nutrition and weight management at Loyola University Health System’s Gottlieb Memorial Hospital.

Despite that fact that two-thirds of Americans say they are on a diet to improve their health, very few are actually decreasing in size. “Dieting is a skill, much like playing a musical instrument, and requires practice and good instruction, “ says Dr. Bartfield. “You’re going to hit some wrong notes and feel frustrated, but eventually you will succeed and it will get easier.”

Top Four Reasons Why Dieters Don’t Lose Weight

According to Dr. Bartfield, here are the top four reasons why many dieters fail to lose weight.

1. Underestimating Calories Consumed
“Most people (even experts!) underestimate the number of calories they eat per day. Writing down everything that you eat- including drinks and "bites" or "tastes" of food - can help increase self-awareness. Pay attention to serving sizes and use measuring cups and spoons as serving utensils to keep portions reasonable. Food eaten outside of the home tends to be much larger portion sizes and much higher in calories. Try to look up nutrition information of your favorite take-out meal or restaurant and select a healthy meal before picking up the phone or going out to eat.

2. Overstimating Activity and Calories Burned- “Typically you need to cut 500 calories per day to lose 1 lb per week. This is very difficult to achieve through exercise alone, and would require 60 minutes or more of vigorous activity every day. A more attainable goal would be to try to increase activity throughout the day and get a total of 30 minutes of moderate to vigorous exercise most days of the week. Buy a pedometer and track your steps; try to increase to a goal of 10,000 steps per day. But be careful- exercise is not an excuse to eat more!”

3. Poor Timing of Meals - “You need a steady stream of glucose throughout the day to maintain optimal energy and to prevent metabolism from slowing down. Eat breakfast every day within one hour of waking up, then eat a healthy snack or meal every three to four hours. Try not to go longer than 5 hours without eating a healthy snack or meal to keep your metabolism steady.”

4. Inadequate Sleep – “Studies have shown that people who get fewer than six hours of sleep have higher levels of ghrelin, which is a hormone that stimulates appetite, particularly for high- carbohydrate /high- calorie foods. In addition, less sleep raises levels of cortisol, a stress hormone, which can lead to weight gain.”

Dr. Bartfield regularly counsels patients through the Gottlieb Medical Weight Loss Program, an interdisciplinary, non-surgical 12-week program that seeks to establish good health routines. “Just as you rely on an expert to learn a new skill or subject, in the Gottlieb program, a registered dietitian, behavioral psychologist, exercise physiologist and a physician all partner one-on-one with patients,” said Bartfield. “Good health practices are more than just learned, they become a regular habit and a way of life.”

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Top Reasons Why People Don't Lose Weight From Loyola Expert

Everwood has released a provocative new weight loss book, set to turn the health and fitness world upside-down.

(PRWEB) February 14, 2012

Everwood Presents: - America remains heralded as one of the most overweight countries in the world and despite a growing awareness, it seems losing weight remains for many people as confusing and as elusive as ever. Society is bombarded constantly by a marketing onslaught of diets, fads, exercise machines, home delivered meals, supplements, pills and other weight loss schemes and services. Unfortunately, the industry is infamous for its often suspicious and questionable methods, all promising quick and easy solutions to an already despairing population. To add to the confusion, the modern era is one where information surrounding nutrition and exercise is exhaustive and often at times contradictory, so it’s no wonder that people looking to lose weight can often feel skeptical, overwhelmed and discouraged.

While health and fitness professionals will generally agree that losing weight is best achieved through dieting and exercise, an innovative new method from Australia is well on its way to revolutionize this perception. According to weight loss specialist Azrael, mainstream advice surrounding weight loss is frequently impractical, incorrect or short-sighted. “While I believe the majority of health and fitness professionals across the world do have the best of intentions, many are unfortunately providing the public and their governments with misleading or wrong information.” Azrael continues by stating that popular industry maxims such as "weight loss is all about calories in versus calories out," "dieting and exercise," "write a weight loss goal," "eat a balanced diet," and "breakfast is the most important meal of the day," are all examples of what he calls junk information.

Azrael has personally battled against obesity twice in his life. “When I first lost weight, I succeeded by following the advice of experts at the time. I was eating a very low-fat diet in combination with plenty of exercise. But years later, my priorities in life changed and before I knew it, I was more overweight than ever.” Realizing that the initial advice he had followed was ultimately unhealthy and unrealistic for the long term, Azrael lost trust with the experts and was in turn inspired to find his own solution. Azrael succeeded and developed a weight loss method without dieting or exercise, without using willpower or supplements and without undergoing hypnotherapy or surgery and has effortlessly kept the weight off now for many years. He clearly articulates that there are no secrets to losing weight and that essentially, permanent weight loss is based on common sense and living a healthy lifestyle. The difficulty he claims is that common sense and healthy lifestyle are not terms agreed to universally. “Leading a healthy lifestyle is not a new idea, however people may be surprised and shocked to learn of what actually constitutes a healthy lifestyle. Eating five to eight small meals a day for example, is not healthy living in my opinion, yet this directly opposes mainstream health and fitness advice. The public needs to remember that ‘what works’ and ‘what is healthy’ are not always one and the same.”

After first helping friends and family to lose weight, Azrael has gone on to assist countless others with his new book: Odysi Zero | Lose Weight: Say No to Dieting and Exercise. He actively warns that some people make take offence from the book’s content, yet he expresses his opinions without apology. Azrael and his supporters remain steadfast and resolute in spreading his message. “I strongly feel some things must be said and so I have said them.”

Odysi Zero | Lose Weight: Say No to Dieting and Exercise is available for $25.00 in most bookstores or online at http://www.OdysiZero.com.

Original Edition. ISBN: 9780646546872 (pbk), 100 pages, 6 x 8, eBook also available.

###

Neofitos Pertsinidis
Everwood Pty Ltd
0466 806 539 +61
Email Information

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New Book Reveals How to Lose Weight by Saying No to Dieting and Exercise.

Leading UK university tests iconic Hotpants against regular sportswear and discovers women lose weight 4 times faster with Hotpants during a 30 minute period of exercise.

(PRWEB) February 13, 2012

Zaggora has announced the results of a study performed by the physiology department of a leading UK university. The university was commissioned to conduct a series of tests to research the thermal and metabolic changes that occur when exercising in Hotpants compared to a standard pair of gym shorts.

Tested on nine females with an average BMI of 23.3, researchers found that compared to a standard garment in 30 minutes of exercise:

    Weight loss was around four times greater in Hotpants     Hotpants increased the energy expenditure during exercise by 6%     Hotpants increased energy expenditure in the resting stage after exercise by 16%     The core temperature in Hotpants increased by an average of 18% compared to the control     Thermal sensation was significantly greater but still safe in Hotpants

Zaggora launched Hotpants with huge success in July 2011, selling a pair every minute in their first 10 weeks, and over 275,000 pairs within the first five months. Thriving on social proof from over 130,000 women on Facebook, Zaggora’s first technology-enhanced product flew off the shelves after women experienced significant weight loss and smoother legs.

The Zaggora Hotpants concept is focused on using a special Celu-Lite fabric technology to increase the user’s natural body temperature during exercise. In turn, the body starts working harder, resulting in increased metabolism and greater calorie burn. Zaggora Hotpants were made to fit into every woman’s lifestyle no matter how busy they are, and can be worn under clothes at work, whilst at the gym, or at home.

Last month, Zaggora announced the launch of three new products, expanding its range of technology advanced active wear. The new products follow the same concept as Hotpants, and are designed to give workouts more power in 2012. The new range includes ‘Flares,’ leggings that target thighs, calves and bums; ‘Capri Flares,’ three quarter length leggings; and ‘Nude Hotpants’ which can be worn under garments.

In 2012, Zaggora will be commissioning additional scientific research to further explore the long term effects of their technology enabled active wear.

*Tests were conducted in December 2011 and January 2012 in controlled conditions in British Association of Sport and Exercise Science Accredited Laboratories at the University of Brighton, Chelsea School of Sport.

Available from http://www.zaggora.com prices start from £44.99.

About ZAGGORA

Inspired by real women, Zaggora was founded by Dessi Bell after she struggled to find an effective solution to lose weight in time for her wedding. Zaggora is an iconic brand specialising in developing technology enabled clothing helping women to look and feel good. The company is committed to delivering a natural and efficient way for women to achieve more out of their workouts and feel good about themselves.

Read what real women have to say about Zaggora products: http://www.facebook.com/myhotpants

Press: Lucy Page | Head of Marketing & PR | lucy.page(at)zaggora(dot)com

###

Malcolm Bell
Zaggora Hotpants
+44 (0) 84 55 197 613
Email Information

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New Research Reveals Zaggora Hotpants™ Help Women Lose 4 Times More Weight in 30 Minutes

Right now in America, more than %60 of the population is trying to lose weight. For many of them, it's not a winning battle, which can be down right discouraging. New research is showing it may not have to do with your activity level, or a lack of trying, but rather your genetics.

Over the past few months, Stephanie Clemens has lost 64 pounds and she loves it.

"It’s like I don't even remember what those 64 pounds felt like. I'll sometimes pick up a 64 pound weight at the gym and I’m like oh my gosh, how did I carry this around," she said.

But it's taken Clemens awhile to get here. When she began gaining weight a few years ago, it not only impacted her physically, it affected her mentally.

"You know it was hard because I think every girl has the perception you need to be thin, you need to be smaller," Clemens said.

So she tried several diets, including the popular HCG diet, where you eat less while injecting hormones into your body. It worked for awhile.

"But when you're eating less than 500 calories a day for 30 days it's easy to drop weight," Clemens said.

When Clemens began eating normally again all the weight came back, and then some. So now she's on a weight watchers plan, and she works out a few times a week.  It's been a huge success for her.

Doctor Wayne askew from University of Utah College of health says he's heard stories just like Stephanie’s over and over again.

"Not all people respond the same to a diet, some people may be very discouraged on a diet that a friend did and think there's something they did wrong and maybe it's just their genetics," askew said.

It's an interesting new way of thinking when it comes to a person's weight; that d-n-a could be the culprit behind uncontrollable weight gain.

"The genes control the enzymes and the enzymes control the metabolism. So if you do not produce enough enzymes that metabolize fat efficiently then you should avoid a high fat diet," askew said.

The same goes for carbohydrates or sugars. If your body doesn't process them properly, it can turn into fat on your body. This type of testing is a brand new field called Nutrigenomics. It breaks down your genes and can prescribe a unique diet and exercise program just for you. If you, like many others, are missing certain enzymes, some foods will do you no good.

The problem with Nutrigenomics right now, it's hard to find and can be expensive. But doctor askew believes for about 40% of the population who can't lose weight, this will end up being an amazing option.

Clemens says she can see how it could work.

"For people that need a little more guidance and direction, that's probably the perfect diet," she said.

But Stephanie has already found a plan that works with her DNA, and she's sticking with it.

It may not be as precise as a blood draw or mouth swab, but dieticians say there are body factors and family history clues that can lead you to the right diet for your DNA.

If you have low energy or heart disease in your family, you should try a low fat diet.

If you carry weight around your midsection or if you have high blood pressure, a low carb diet might be right for you.

Finally, if you have a family history of diabetes, a Mediterranean background or stomach issues, a balanced diet may be your best bet.

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Weight Loss, what's DNA got to do with it?

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