Some find it hard to even contemplate not eating meat

[Guest guest]

Rejecting meat 'keeps weight low'

 

Obesity is linked to cancer

Meat-eaters who switch to a vegetarian diet gain slightly less weight

than those who do not make major changes to their diets, a study

suggests.

Scientists for Cancer Research UK compared the weight gains of 22,000

meat eaters, fish eaters, vegetarians and vegans over a five-year

period.

 

On average people gained two kilos but those who had switched to a

diet with less animal foods gained a little less.

 

Obesity is a major cause of cancer and other diseases.

 

The research team, led by Professor Tim Key, of Oxford University,

studied the eating habits of 22,000 people recruited to the European

Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition (EPIC) between

1994 and 1999.

 

This confirms that the best way to prevent obesity is to combine a

healthy diet with exercise

 

Professor Tom Key

Cancer Research UK

 

They were weighed and measured and asked to give details of their

diet and lifestyle.

 

The team then followed their subjects up an average of five years

later (between 2000 and 2003) and asked them the same questions.

 

They found that everyone gained an average of 2kg, but those who had

switched to a vegetarian diet from a meat-eating diet gained around

0.5kg less.

 

Those switching to a vegan diet showed slightly smaller weight gains.

 

Professor Tom Key said it had been known for some time that

vegetarians and vegans tended to be slimmer than meat-eaters but they

had never been followed over a number of years.

 

He also said: " Contrary to the current popular views that a diet low

in carbohydrates and high in proteins keeps weight down, we found

that the lowest weight gain came in people with high intake of

carbohydrate and low intake of protein. "

 

Obesity risks

 

He also stressed that, in line with current understanding, the

highest weight gain came in people who did very little exercise.

 

" This confirms that the best way to prevent obesity is to combine a

healthy diet with exercise, " he added.

 

Cancer Research UK conducted the study because of the known links

between obesity and cancer.

 

The charity's medical director, Professor John Toy, said: " EPIC

continues to highlight the importance of diet and exercise in

achieving a healthy weight.

 

'Balanced diet'

 

" We know that obesity contributes to the increasing risk of cancer as

it does to heart disease and diabetes. "

 

Dr Colin Waine, president of the National Obesity Forum,

said: " Whatever diet you are on, if your calorie intake exceeds your

calorie output, you will gain weight. "

 

He suggested that those on a vegetarian diet put on less weight

because they were more likely to achieve a balanced diet and eat less

saturated fat.

 

But he added: " This research shouldn't lead to advocating

vegetarianism as an answer to obesity.

 

" We know if you have a balanced diet and exercise to a reasonable

degree - that is the best way to lose weight. "

 

Ursula Arens, spokeswoman for the British Dietetic Association, said

the study did not prove that switching to a vegetarian diet led to

weight loss in someone who was overweight.

 

" A diet of chips and chocolate is 'vegetarian' but not healthy or

likely to help slimming, " she said.

 

But she added that vegetarians were often interested in nutrition and

made healthy choices such as fruit, vegetables, pulses and whole

grains.

[Guest guest]

I'm lucky,

both my parents have skinny genes,

and I don't like eating that much.

sometimes I forget to eat, other things seem more important.

 

my favorite foods are mango, orange, chocolate, french fries,

plantains and beans.

 

 

 

 

, " heartwerk " <jo.heartwork wrote:

>

> Rejecting meat 'keeps weight low'

>

> Obesity is linked to cancer

> Meat-eaters who switch to a vegetarian diet gain slightly less weight

> than those who do not make major changes to their diets, a study

> suggests.

>

>

[Guest guest]

My parents were both normal weight although I do remember both of

them becoming a little overweight for about a year when financial

circumstances improved.

 

Jo

 

, " Anouk Sickler " <zurumato

wrote:

>

> I'm lucky,

> both my parents have skinny genes,

> and I don't like eating that much.

> sometimes I forget to eat, other things seem more important.

>

> my favorite foods are mango, orange, chocolate, french fries,

> plantains and beans.

>

>

>

>

> , " heartwerk " <jo.heartwork@>

wrote:

> >

> > Rejecting meat 'keeps weight low'

> >

> > Obesity is linked to cancer

> > Meat-eaters who switch to a vegetarian diet gain slightly less

weight

> > than those who do not make major changes to their diets, a study

> > suggests.

> >

> >

>

[Guest guest]

Hi Anouk

 

I am quite lucky too in that regard, I take after my father who is

tall and slim. Though I do have to watch my tummy sometimes.

 

But forget to eat!!! NEVER! I LOVE food way to much. I eat way too

much and way too often. LOL

 

Nikki

 

 

, " Anouk Sickler " <zurumato

wrote:

>

> I'm lucky,

> both my parents have skinny genes,

> and I don't like eating that much.

> sometimes I forget to eat, other things seem more important.

>

> my favorite foods are mango, orange, chocolate, french fries,

> plantains and beans.

>

>

>