Can Thinking Too Hard Lead to Weight Gain?

Don’t think too hard? A Université Laval research team has demonstrated that intellectual work induces a substantial increase in calorie intake and may lead to weight gain. The details of this discovery, are published in the most recent issue of Psychosomatic Medicine.

The research team, supervised by Dr. Angelo Tremblay, measured the spontaneous food intake of 14 students after several tasks and found that the caloric intake after intellectual tasks was much higher when compared to restful activities.

Blood samples taken before, during, and after each session revealed that intellectual work causes much bigger fluctuations in glucose and insulin levels than rest periods.

“Caloric overcompensation following intellectual work, combined with the fact that we are less physically active when doing intellectual tasks, could contribute to the obesity epidemic currently observed in industrialized countries,” said Mr. Chaput. “This is a factor that should not be ignored, considering that more and more people hold jobs of an intellectual nature,” the researcher concluded.

###
Source:
Angelo Tremblay, Ph.D.
Faculty of Medicine
Université Laval

Print This Post Print This Post

Filed Under Diet Tips, What's New 

Comments

2 Responses to “Can Thinking Too Hard Lead to Weight Gain?”

  1. Outraged on September 11th, 2008 6:28 am

    This is the MOST RIDICULOUS thing I’ve ever read! Don’t think too hard?? It’s true that your body is working hard when you’re reading, researching, or writing– but that’s a good thing. It’s very much like a workout– fluctuations in glucose and insulin– but you have to eat well before, during or after to make sure your body is getting the nutrients it needs. Make smart choices, but by all means, do not stop challenging yourself intellectually.
    “Thinking too hard” does NOT LEAD TO WEIGHT GAIN.

  2. linda on September 11th, 2008 10:06 am

    For me, I have found that I eat sensibly when I am about my workday, however, when I sit down to finish the paperwork I want to consume large amts of food. My thinking too hard results in emotionally eating. Thanks for a great website!
    Linda RN

Got something to say?





Copyright © 2008 Glennys Diet Tips