Weekend - the enemy of weight loss

Researchers at Washington Medical University said Saturday could be the most feared enemy to the waistline of people who want to preserve body weight.

Dr. B. Ractte's research team (assistant professor of physical therapy, Washington University School of Medicine) monitored 48 adults aged 50 to 60. These people participated in the CALERIE study. - Comprehensive evaluation program on the long-term effects of reducing energy intake.

When conducting the study, the researchers saved the body mass index (BMI) of the participants. No one is obese.

According to previous studies, mice and some rodents live longer, healthier when they have a calorie-restricted diet.

Dr. Racette said: The difference is that rodents do not have weekends like humans, on these days, human life activities are very different. People often participate in social events, join parties, and if there are children playing sports, they will probably watch them play all day, so often eat more than usual.

On Saturdays and Sundays, people tend to eat more.(Photo: Time.com)

The study participants were divided into 3 groups: the first group: reducing the daily calorie consumption to 20%, the second group: increasing daily activities to 20%, and the third group: control not changing change the diet as well as the level of participation in activities. All three groups were followed for a year. They retain the diary of meals, the exercises they have gone through with accelerometers, simultaneously, are weighed regularly. Racette stated that the people in the research team did not always realize that it was clear that on the weekends they ate more than usual.

Before the intervention, the researchers developed a number of 'boundaries' for the subjects ' exercise and eating habits. The data before the intervention showed that most people consumed calories most often on Saturdays. On average, about 36% of total calories come from fat-containing foods in Saturday's dishes, but the amount of calories in other days in the week is also less than 35%.

When the study participants were asked whether they cut calories to 20% or increased their activities to the same amount, the answer is still not much changed. People in the calorie restriction group absorbed more energy on Saturday. People in the active group often eat more on both Saturday and Sunday. And therefore, people in the calorie reduction group did not lose weight at the weekend, and those in the hyperactive group often gained weight at the weekend.

Dr. Racette said: "Dieters often do not lose as much as expected, and this finding explains why."

When the researchers moved on to the second phase of the CALERIE study, focusing on tracking participants in a longer process. Researchers have now proposed a daily weight balance to raise participants' awareness of diets to lose weight and gain weight, especially on weekends. For those who do not belong to this study, Ms. Racette recommends eating well and having a clear plan to avoid adverse eating habits on weekends.

"Planning ahead is still not good" - TS. Racette said. She offers a plan if you are going to go far away, pack up nutritious food, eat something to avoid starving when you go to the party, you can even have a snack before going to the flood Children play football so you have a choice, instead of eating scattered when waiting and watching them play.