A 'first of its kind' study at New Zealand's University of Otago suggests that fast eating may be linked to weight gain. The study focused on a group of 1500 women between the ages of 40 and 50, the ages known to be most prone to excessive weight gain. Dieticians and other natural therapy practitioners looking for more effective solutions to weight gain have been following this study closely.
Using the Body Mass Index (BMI) as a guide, study lead investigator Dr. Caroline Horwath took factors such as age, menopause and levels of physical activity into account in order to compile accurate data. After factoring these in, she and her fellow researchers discovered that there did seem to be a direct correlation between BMI and eating speed. The five step scale used by the University of Otago researchers ranged from "very slow" to "very fast" and for each increase in speed, the subjects' BMI "increased by 2.8%, which is equivalent to a 1.95 kg weight increase in a woman of average BMI for this group", according to Dr. Horwath.
While this study was unable to unequivocally prove that faster eating speeds were the actual cause of higher BMIs, the evidence produced by the study was compelling enough for Dr. Horwath and her team to initiate a follow up study to determine if faster eaters gained more weight over an extended period of time. The results of this two year follow up study are slated to be published in 2012. If they indicate that there is a causal connection between eating fast and gaining weight, it could have profound implications for weight management programmes.
According to Dr. Horwath, "Many dieters regain any weight they lose within five years and often end up heavier than when they began." If eating speed is part of the reason for this, it is hoped that a planned intervention program that focuses on training dieters to eat more slowly will achieve more long-lasting results.
Other non-dietary interventions that have shown promise include relaxation techniques and the recognition and avoidance of stress-related eating triggers. It is hoped that a holistic approach that includes a healthy diet, slower eating habits, stress reduction and increased awareness will prove to be a more effective solution than dieting alone.
Results of the University of Otago study were originally published in the Journal of the American Dietabetic Association.
