Recalling Last Meal may Help You Lose Weight, Says Research

Memories of recent meals could help one to lose weight, says research. The research, led by a psychologist at the University of Liverpool, also identified that being distracted when eating a meal leads to increased consumption of the immediate meal but has even more of an effect on later eating.

Distractions, which include watching television, listening to the radio or music or reading a newspaper at the dinner table, impede a person's awareness of the food they are eating and results in over-consumption, they found.

Researchers analysed 24 separate studies, which had examined the impact of awareness, attention, memory and distraction on how much food we eat.

They found that remembering meals, being more aware and paying added attention to meals results in lower food consumption and could help with weight loss programmes.

Techniques such as writing down previous meals, using visual reminders of previous meals and keeping food wrappers were found to help with food memories and lead to a reduction in meal sizes.

"Our research found that if people recalled their last meal as being filling and satisfying then they ate less during their next meal," said Dr Eric Robinson, from the Institute of Psychology, Health and Society.

This could be developed as a new strategy to help with weight loss and maintenance and reduce the need for calorie controlled dieting.

Dr Robinson noted that the studies they analysed looked at adults with healthy body mass index so additional work is needed to find out how this might affect people who are overweight.

The research has been published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.

Source: ANI

Unintentional Weight Loss Symptom Evaluation

Unintentional weight loss is often a consequence of physiological or psychological disorders and should be promptly investigated.

Quiz on Weight Loss

If you thought fried foods, processed foods and potato are the bad guys in your weight loss plan, you thought right! Take this quiz and find out what actually can help you get the figure you always ...

Bad Foods that May Still Be Good for Weight Loss

Who thought potato or pasta could help with your weight loss? Watch this slideshow to find out what researchers and nutritionists are saying about these and other 'bad' foods.

Poor Children of Low Income Parents Denied Free School Meals

Children of parents with below average income are considered poor but are denied free school meals. Children's Society urges government to take necessary measures.