Fall 2008, Boost Your Health - Roper St. Francis Healthcare

Slow Down7at Meal TimesA study at the University of Rhode Island inKingston recently found that by eatingslower, you can eat about 70 fewercalories per meal, which adds up to 210calories a day. This caloriereduction could help you lose two pounds permonth and 24 poundsper year.For many of us, meals are something tosqueeze in between meetings or as werush out the door. But did you know thathurrying through lunch can also meanbypassing the built-in mechanism in yourbody that tells you when you are full?According to board certified endocrinologist KimPugh, “there is a slight delay in the intricate signalingfrom the stomach to the brain. When we eat toofast, we can miss that message and continue eating,even though our stomach has had enough.”Overeating at any age can lead to obesity and thehost of problems that accompany it: diabetes, highcholesterol and blood pressure, and even sleepapnea. Children are at a particularly high risk forignoring the body’s fullness signals, especially ifthey are distracted by the television or are eating inthe car. Dr. Pugh recommends setting regularmealtimes, avoiding distractions, and even puttingutensils down between each bite. “This gives yourbrain and stomach time to communicate so that youknow when to stop.”28 house calls