The Zoomer Report: Two Diets

Here’s some more evidence that eating a big breakfast can lead to weight
loss.

A study, presented at the Endocrine Society’s annual meeting in San
Francisco, tested two low-calorie diets to see which one did a better job at
helping people drop pounds and keep them off.

Ninety-four obese and physically inactive women followed either a 1,085-calorie,
very low-carbohydrate diet or a 1,240-calorie, modified-carbohydrate “big
breakfast” diet. The big breakfast included milk, lean meat, cheese, whole-grain
bread, added fat, even a little chocolate or candy.

At four months, women on the low-carbohydrate diet lost, on average, 28 pounds
and the big-breakfast dieters shed 23 pounds.

But after eight months the situation had reversed. The low-carb dieters regained
about 18 pounds, while the big-breakfast eaters continued to shed weight, losing
a further 16.5 pounds. The researchers theorize that eating a big breakfast
works because it helps maintain higher levels of the brain chemical serotonin,
which is thought to play a key role in regulating carbohydrate intake.

Photo ©iStockphoto.com/Feifei Liang

READ MORE ZOOMER REPORTS

The
Zoomer Report: Maintaining weight loss

The
Zoomer Report: Chores and Sex

The
Zoomer Report: Best Spas

About The Zoomer Report

Libby Znaimer, a prominent Canadian journalist specializing in business, politics, and lifestyle issues, is producer and host of The Zoomer Report, a special feature on topics of interest to baby boomers and the 50+. It covers everything from health and wealth to leisure and volunteerism, from the special vantage point of the generation that has changed society in its wake.

Ms. Znaimer is also Vice-President of News and Information for Classical 96.3FM and AM740. Her first book, “In Cancerland – Living Well Is The Best Revenge” – was published in October 2007 by Key Porter.

Are you a Zoomer? Click here to find out.