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Archive for March, 2010

Say No to Manolos

Tuesday, March 2, 2010 by:Jill Montag
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Yes, sometimes a beautiful pair of shoes can be harder to resist than a piece of chocolate cake. However, a new study says you’ll pay later for the shoe choices you make today, and it won’t be pretty.

Researchers from Boston University School of Public Health and the Institute for Aging Research at Hebrew SeniorLife assessed the footwear choices and foot pain and discomfort of more than 3,000 men and women. According to the study, 25% of participants reported generalized foot pain on most days, with 19% of men and 29% of women falling into this category. The study found an increased risk between hindfoot pain and shoewear, but only in women  — because less than 2% of men wore poor shoes.

Researchers say more studies are needed, but they urge young women to make careful choices when it comes to shoes to avoid hindfoot pain later in life. Or, they suggest, at least perform stretching exercises to alleviate the effect of high heels on foot pain.

Thin Friends and Your Diet

Monday, March 1, 2010 by:Jill Montag
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Thin friends who can eat you under the table may be more than just annoying; they could be hazardous to your wasteline.

Researchers from University of British Columbia, Duke University and Arizona State University recruited 210 college students to participate in what they said was a study about movie watching. The students were told they’d be paired with another student study subject; instead, they were paired with a naturally thin member of the research team who at times donned an “obesity prosthesis” to make her appear much larger.

All of the students were offered snacks while viewing film clips. The undercover researcher, who was served first, helped herself to either a large or small serving. Then the student participant was offered the same bowl of food. In every case, the amount of food the students accepted was influenced by the portion size chosen by the undercover researcher, regardless of her size.

The study authors say these findings suggest that the size of the person you eat with matters much less than the size of the meal they order. In other words, if a heavy-set companion eats a lot you’re likely to adjust your behavior and eat less. But a thin friend who eats a lot may cause you to eat more than you usually would.

So what’s the moral of the story? Be wary of thin friends with big appetites.

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