No More TV Dinners

TV is a distraction. According to researchers at the Hopital Hotel-Dieu, Paris, watching television while eating may also ruin your efforts to lose weight.

The study, reported in August's American Journal of Clinical Nutrition looked at 41 women aged 26 to 44 who were described as "normally restricted eaters". Some of the women were asked to listen to a taped detective story, or otherwise distracted while eating. The results suggested were likely to consume significantly more calories if eating while distracted.

Slouching on the sofa with a TV dinner may be bad for you whether you are trying to lose weight or not. Edith Maskell of Bromley Health Management explains:

"Your body needs to digest food properly in order to take the best nutrients and eliminate toxins from what you are eating. The best way to do this is to eat sitting up, in a comfortable, natural position".

Unfortunately, grabbing a McDonalds on the way home from work is the cardinal sin. "Eating standing up, or on the move is a big no-no. Our bodies weren't designed to cope with food on the run".

As always, it looks like the best, and healthiest place to eat is sat at the dinner table.

Monday, 10 September 2001