How to Avoid Binge Eating
Monday, July 14th, 2008
This is not me… but it could be! 
A few postings ago, I re-printed some research about eating in front of the television and how it could lead to obesity (see TV Makes You Fat). It wasn’t my intention to get back on the “this is why we’re heavy” topic so quickly, but I saw this info on AOL and wanted to share some “food for thought”.
HOW TO AVOID BINGE EATING (AOL)
- Trade your corkscrew for a bottle opener: Participants in one study ate more food while drinking wine than while drinking beer.
- Shape up: Wedge-shaped foods like pizza make it difficult to estimate proper portions. (No wonder the apple pie always goes so fast.)
- Pack a packet: Instant oatmeal beats out All Bran and Muesli for fullness factor. We love Quaker’s Weight Control Maple and Brown Sugar–it tastes heavenly and has more fiber, protein, and whole grains than the regular variety.
- Find a new china pattern: Research shows that blue is a natural appetite suppressant, so using blue plates, napkins, or placemats may make you eat more slowly and realize when you’re full.
- Dig pop culture: Because it’s mostly air, popcorn is twice as filling as a candy bar or peanuts, with fewer calories. We like Pop Secret 100-calorie packs
- Be antisocial: On average, people who eat with one other person consume about 35 percent more than when they dine alone; at a table of four, that figure rises to 75 percent more; if you’re in a party of eight you’ll nearly double your intake.
- Ignore diet labels: One study found that after eating full-fat muffins, subjects were less hungry and ate less over the next 24 hours than after eating a fat-free version.
- Re-paint your dining room beige: Red, yellow, and orange hues stimulate appetite and make you eat more.
- Hold your breath: Just smelling a fresh-baked cupcake in the break room can induce the insulin secretion that makes you think you’re hungry. Sight activates the appetite snowball too, so avert your eyes.
- Make a dinner date: A study found that women eat less than usual on dates (men tend to eat a lot more).
- But don’t eat by candlelight: Dim light can trigger binge eating.
Does any of this make sense to you? I agree with the pizza point. Since I live alone, I tend to buy smaller packages or single servings instead of buying in bulk. I know it costs more, but it’s easier to stop eating potato chips when you finish a single portion than it is if you have a party-size bag of Lays (betcha can’t eat just one!). I’m not so sure about the blue plates, though. My dishes are cobalt blue and that doesn’t stop me from pigging out.
What do you think? Have your say by clicking on the No Comments/Comments link below. Today’s Jack Nation bonus code is BINGE. It will help you gain points (not weight) until July 16th.