Eat more to weigh less?

When a patient tells a health-care professional he or she eats like a bird but still gains weight, many practitioners conjure up an image of a giant eagle flying away with a large pig to feast on. But this traditional view has not been shared by all. For many years some health-care professionals, including myself, have believed that weight gain, specifically increased body fat, can result from eating too little. This theory recently received a boost from an article published in the USDA's Nutrition Insights. Opponents argue that it's not possible to gain body fat by eating too little, since weight gain and loss is associated with the "calories-in/calories-out" theory. In other words, the calories you eat minus the calories burned in physical activity equals your weight. Therefore, say the critics, it's impossible to eat too little and gain weight.

On the other hand is the theory that eating too little can result in more stored body fat, and more weight gain. This is based on the idea that eating less slows the metabolism, and that eating more can help stabilize blood sugar and control insulin levels. Lower insulin levels help the body burn fat while higher insulin levels promote fat storage. In addition to reducing carbohydrates, especially sugar, wheat and potatoes, the best way to control insulin is to eat more often. Eating every two to three hours can significantly help control insulin and burn more body fat. Essentially, take the total food eaten in a day and divide it into six smaller meals.

Acceptance of these principles by the USDA and others will open the door for more research to answer further questions about why the body stores less fat when it is fed more often. Soon, everyone will accept the notion that eating too little can add body fat, and the calorie-in calorie-out theory will be out.

Dr. Phil Maffetone

MAF BioNutrionals

http://www.MAFGroup.com

This page was last edited on 03/27/2009