"LESS" doesn't mean "NOT ENOUGH"

A friend of mine sent me a link to a picture of a t-shirt with the words ‘Eat Less’ on the shirt. This picture was posted on a popular news/blog website and the comments section had many people suggesting that they didn’t like the t-shirt because they felt it promoted eating disorders.

This of course is a one sided way of thinking. Eating “Less” is exactly the prescription for people who are currently eating too much, and it’s also the only way to lose weight (for those people interested in weight loss)

People who don’t like the ‘eat less’ recommendation for weight loss are jumping to the conclusion that ‘eat less’ is the same as ‘not eating enough to maintain healthy baseline functioning’. These are two drastically different levels of food.

Unfortunately those with eating disorders like anorexia routinely take it to the extreme and go below the level of calories required for normal functioning for extended periods of time. In their specific cases I can see why the ‘eat less’ recommendation seems ominous.

But the fact remains that for most people who are looking to drop some weight the simplest and most effective strategy is to just eat less.

John

Many area’s of weight loss research will examine specific causes for weight gain and then try to fix that specific cause.

Many researchers are looking for answers in the wrong places.

This might make sense in a clinical research setting when the process involves writing a grant to ask for money from a government organization.

But it doesn’t make much sense to you or me who are just trying to find something that works in our life that we can apply today.

Here is just a short list of factors that most likely contribute to the way we eat:

1. Exercise

2. Country we live in

3. Family upbringing

4. Emotional stress

5. Work environment

6. Commute time for work

7. Physical activity levels outside of the gym

8. Workouts (if you do them at all)

9. Relationship status

10. Family status (married or single, kids or not, living with other family members)

11. Genetic factors

12. Socio-economic status (how much cash you got!)

As you can see the genetic component is just one of many factors that impact how you eat. However most of the weight loss research and interventions you hear about focus on just this area.

It’s the proverbial “you’re broken and if we just get enough research funding we’ll be able to build a drug or food program that can fix you”…BS!

The sum total of all the items on the above list (and I’m sure there are others I’ve missed) is what will determine you’re weight loss success.

In the case of weight loss I’m afraid that it will never be possible to truly study it with real effectiveness.

Next monday’s podcast we will cover this topic in detail. You can find it here: Adonis Lifestyle Podcast

John