Losing weight is undoubtedly a difficult battle–especially if you’re obese.
Now researchers have discovered a troubling reason why you can’t lose weight, and it has nothing to do with your genetics.
According to a new study from the Virginia Tech College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, mice who had the choice of eating a high-fat or low-fat diet didn’t lose weight at all–in fact, they gained more weight.
The findings appear in the latest issue of the journal Endocrinology.
“We like variety,” says Deborah Good, author of the study and an associate professor of human nutrition, foods, and exercise at Virginia Tech. “But when there is a choice, we eat more than when there is not any variety.”
For the study, researchers used two female rats with offspring who were initially fed a high-fat or low-fat diet. They were not allowed to choose their own foods, however, only offered meals that fit under the high-fat or low-fat category.
Researchers then split the offspring into three groups, where they ate a high-fat diet, a low-fat diet, or were allowed to choose both high-fat and low-fat foods as a part of their diet plan.
Surprisingly, despite being given the option to try low-fat foods, the mice on the third plan still gained weight–something which researchers believe is due to having too many choices. By not restricting certain foods, they may choose both high-fat and low-fat foods, causing them to eat more fat and calories overall.
“This study is central to the philosophies of osteopathic medicine, which promote wellness and preventive care in medicine,” says Renee Prater, co-author of the study and an associate dean for curriculum, assessment and medical education at the Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine. “This helps to show that if you make good choices, you can overcome some of your natural tendencies and be healthier in the long-run.”
Unfortunately for this study, those good choices didn’t include choosing both high and low-fat foods to eat. Instead, it appears restricting the foods you’re able to eat yields better results weight-wise. In the study, the mice who were restricted to low-fat foods became thinner and weren’t prone to overeating, unlike the other groups.
So, if you’re trying to diet, it’s best to keep “bad” foods out of reach.
“We have found that environmental factors are just as important if not more so than a mother’s diet when it comes obesity,” says George Davis, a professor at Virginia Tech.
What You Should Do
To lose weight, regular exercise and healthy eating undoubtedly matters. But if you’re still struggling to lose weight, make sure your kitchen doesn’t have any tempting foods as well–having too much variety, as shown in the study, could actually make it harder to get slim.
Readers: Do you think having variety in your diet is a good idea? Why or why not?
Sources:
Too Many Food Choices Exacerbate the Battle Against Obesity, Researchers Find – ScienceDaily.com
Mitigating or Exacerbating Effects of Maternal-Fetal Programming of Female Mice Through the Food Choice Environment (Study) – Endocrine.org
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