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The impact OF being overweight ON self perception of eating quickly.
- Kobe Millet (24 October 2008)
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Beyond Biology
- Hugh Mann (1 November 2008)
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The impact of Insulin Resistance?
- Malcolm E Kendrick (2 November 2008)
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Kobe Millet, Postdoctoral Researcher KULeuven (funded by Research Foundation Flanders) 3000 Leuven
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As the authors already point out, the link between being overweight and self perception on eating quickly [1] is perhaps not driven by a causal chain of mechanisms related to really eating quickly. I suggest that especially the fact that the authors use a self-perception measure of speed of eating behavior might induce the association between being overweight and self-perception of eating quickly. I predict that the same finding will be observed when overweight people eat at exactly the same pace as normal-weight people. I base this prediction on the following 2 observations: a) It has been shown in different studies that bmi acts as a slowing factor [2], for example it has been found that obese persons walk more slowly [3]. b) Many studies do show so-called “contrast effects” : for example, exposing people to think of the person “Einstein” makes them feel dumb [4]: Einstein evokes comparison with the self, fostering the conclusion in individuals that they are relatively stupid and thus producing a behavioral contrast effect (“I am no Einstein, I am not smart, I am dumb”). Thus, asking 2 persons with the same IQ to rate how intelligent they are on a self perception measure of intelligence, will probably lead to the finding that the person who thought about Einstein will perceive himself as dumber than the person who did not think about Einstein. Similarly, when overweight (slower) people think about the pace at which they eat, they might it perceive as fast compared with their ‘normal’ pace (i.e. pace in other activities such as e.g. walking). Therefore, when using self-perception measures, overweight people might perceive themselves as eating faster than normal-weight people do (as they do not eat faster compared to their ‘normal’ pace) although there is actually no difference in eating pace between both. An experimental study in which both normal-weight and overweight people get the same amount of food to eat and in which the pace of eating has been timed, would help to find out: 1) whether there is indeed an association between eating quickly and being overweight and 2) point to a causal chain when there has indeed an assocation been found between being overweight and measured eating pace. However, on this point of time, it is still unclear whether overweight people indeed eat faster than normal- weight people and therefore it is doubtful whether the observed relationship might help to explain overweight. [1] Maruyama K, Sato S, Ohira T, Maeda K, Noda H, Kubota Y, et al. The joint impact of self reported behaviours of eating quickly and eating until full on overweight: cross sectional survey. BMJ 2008;337:a2002. [2] Colné P, Frelut ML, Pérès G., Thoumie, P. Postural control in obese adolescents assessed by limits of stability and gait initiation. Gait & Posture 2008, 28: 164-169. [3] Hills AP, Parker, AW. Gait characteristics of obese children, Arch Phys Med Rehabil 1991, 72: 403–407. [4] Dijksterhuis A, Spears R, Postmes T, Stapel DA, Koomen W, van Knippenberg A, Scheepers D. Seeing One Thing and Doing Another: Contrast Effects in Automatic Behavior. J Pers Soc Psych 1998, 75: 862–71. Competing interests: None declared |
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Hugh Mann, Physician Eagle Rock, MO 65641 USA
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We are social mammals, and all of our activities are emotionally charged with thoughts and memories of our relationships. These thoughts and memories control much of our lives, including such physiological activities as sleeping and eating. In order to correct sleeping and eating disorders, such as insomnia, anorexia, bulimia, or obesity, we must understand their emotional associations and social context. Sleeping and eating are more than rapid eye movements and peristalsis; they are also dreams and reassurance. Both sleeping and eating revolve around our need for love and security. We are more than biological beings, and it’s impossible to overestimate the significance of our emotional and social life. Competing interests: None declared |
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Malcolm E Kendrick, Salaried GP Benchill Medical Centre, Brownley Green Health Centre, Brownley Road, Wythenshaw M22 4GL
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An interesting article that, perhaps, raises more questions that it answers (which is the sign of good research). Some years ago, I postulated that eating fast may be a cause of heart disease (1). I felt that eating fast may result in increased insulin production - due to activation of stress hormones, increased sympathetic nervous system (SNS) activity etc. This could account for the low rate of CHD in France, despite their apparently high level of traditional risk factors. Others, e.g. Gary Taubes, suggest that obesity may be due to increased consumption of carbohydrates - again resulting in high insulin production and increased activity of the SNS. This paper, again, produces tantalising evidence that fast eating/high insulin secretion/increased SNS activty may result in a metabolic 'upset' that creates a form of food storage in adipose tissue which may be more difficult for the body to access in times of need. It would be interesting, now, to try to link various strands of evidence together to look at the link between stress/increased SNS activity/insulin resistance/fast eating to increased risk of obesity, especially central obesity, the metabolic syndrome, diabetes, and heart disease. 1: Kendrick M. Does insulin resistance cause atherosclerosis in the post-prandial period? Med Hypotheses. 2003 Jan;60(1):6-11.Links Competing interests: None declared |
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