A few days ago El País compiled some studies discussing things that make us gain weight and that we had no idea about. We want to share some of them as January is the month when we all (or at least we should) pay more attention to our diet to lose those extra pounds we gained during the holiday season. Pay close attention and reflect if this is what is affecting you.

1. Not attending family meals

Even if you don’t get along with them, you should know that making a couple of visits a week to family can help prevent obesity and being overweight, because during family meals the food tends to be a bit healthier and emotional connections are established among family members, according to a study by the universities of Minnesota and Columbia in the United States published in Journal of Pediatrics. This is very useful for teenagers and children as it helps prevent obesity when they become adults.

2. Restaurants with classical music

It is important to know that even though sonatas are great companions for romantic dinners, this type of music invites us to eat more. In a British study conducted by the universities of Leicester and Surrey Roehampton, it has been shown that in places where classical music plays in the background, people tend to eat much more compared to those with other types of melodies.

3. Consuming light products

Although it seems contradictory, the conclusion of a study published in the Scandinavian Journal of Primary Health Care is that the consumption of full-fat dairy products is related to a lower risk of developing central obesity. Nutritionist Walter Willett from the Harvard School of Public Health explains that the fatty acids in dairy have an additional effect on weight regulation and that products with all the fat are more satiating, leading to a lower intake. Similarly, nutritionist Natalia Galán from the Sanitas Health Promotion Service explained: “Light products do not always help with weight loss, as having 30% fewer calories than the original product does not guarantee it won't cause weight gain. Many are marketed as light and have more calories than those that are not.”

4. Intestinal bacteria

The problem with your overweight may lie in your gut. Those people who have among the millions of microorganisms in their digestive system bacteria from the family Christensenellaceae have one more reason to smile, as according to a study from Cell, they protect against weight gain. Although this microorganism is inherited, its discovery may allow the design of personalized probiotic treatments for obesity.

5. Depression and anxiety

One-third of people who are stressed tend to lose their appetite and lose weight, but more than half, on the contrary, react to stress by eating highly palatable foods, rich in sugars and fats, because the reward center in our brain gets activated with this type of food. Additionally, cortisol, the stress hormone, sensitizes this reward system and promotes compulsive intake of high-calorie foods. Rubén Bravo, director of the Nutrition Department at the European Institute of Obesity (IMEO), states: “Anxiety and stress are two situations that frequently recur in our consultations. Economic and work problems lead to seeking happiness in food, especially in sweets, which alleviate agitation.” See the original article here.

1. Not attending family meals

2. Restaurants with classical music

3. Consuming light products

4. Intestinal bacteria

5. Depression and anxiety

Recommended Recipes