Archives for the 'fat' tag
The Pause That Refreshes–A Links Roundup
Health care and financial markets are not enough. The Obamas are now going to lead us on the path of righteous eating, for the children of course.
A self-described libertarian anarchist hates Coke. Interesting. The ones I know enjoy capitalism. Is it because he’s English?
Speaking of capitalism and marketing, here’s an example of it modern style courtesy of Chipolte, providing you hefty calories with INTEGRITY.
Whether it’s from calories with integrity or those without, we’re fat. The world is getting fat. So let the modern hand wringing begin: Write a book!
People are too fat, but food still costs too much in the developing world. It’s not particularly cheap either in these cities.
An economist walks into a bar…
Giving New Meaning to the Word “Fathead”
Score one for fat: Fatty foods might contain memory enhancers. University of California, Irvine, scientists found that oleic acids from fats—and the compound oleoylethanolamide used in the lab—send signals to the memory-forming amygdala.
(All of my grandmother’s recipe cards call for “oleo,” short for “oleomargarine,” as the butter substitute was originally known. Perhaps that explains my fond memories of her peach dumplings and sugar cookies.)
One of the scientists offered an evolutionary explanation for the fat/fond memory relationship:
“By helping mammals remember where and when they have eaten a fatty meal, OEA’s memory-enhancing activity seems to have been an important evolutionary tool for early humans and other animals. Remembering the location and context of a fatty meal was probably an important survival mechanism for early humans.”
The study, published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, reminds us that there’s a lot we still don’t know about the moving parts (so to speak) of human biology. The researchers seems to have been originally investigating the compound for its potential in encouraging weight loss. While it’s still far too early to tell what the human applications might be—the fats are being tested on rats for now—there’s discussion that this might be good news for Alzheimer’s patients as well. You never know what you’re going to find on your way to developing much-condemned “frivolous” pharma.
This Is Why You’re Fat
No, really. This Is Why You’re Fat.
Click through for hot dog pie, the McNuggetini, bacon cheeseburgers with chocolate covered bacon, and so much more.
Big Apple Tax Bite
Growing up, there was a policy in the Mangu-Ward household known as the “tax bite.” When mom or dad—mostly dad—helped a kid open a package or bottle, they’d take a cut. A single potato chip, a sip of Coke, a bite of ice cream—each vanished as part of the brutal “tax bite” regime. This is probably why I became a libertarian.
This week, New York is discussing instituting its own tax bite:
Gov. Paterson, as part of a $121 billion budget to be unveiled Tuesday, will propose an “obesity tax” of about 15% on nondiet drinks.
This means a Diet Coke might sell for a $1 – even as the same size bottle of its calorie-rich alter ego would go for $1.15.
People. How many time must we go over this? Soda doesn’t make you fat. Calories make you fat. Yes, soda contains calories. But so do all other foods. The fine folks at Coca-Cola are powerful indeed, but they are not single-handedly making Americans chunky, and it’s absurd to pretend that they’re somehow more culpable than the makers of all-natural peanut butter, or high-end truffles. Or, you know, hot dogs.
Crossposted at reason.com
Study Finds: Fat People Eat More at Buffets
In the proud tradition of using the scientific method to prove incredibly obvious points, researchers from Cornell “sent trained observers to watch 213 randomly-selected patrons of 11 all-you-can-eat Chinese buffets across the United States.” Their findings? Fat people are more likely to:
- Sit at a table vs. a booth.
- Face the buffet while eating, rather than have their side or back to it.
- Begin serving themselves immediately instead of surveying the buffet.
- Pick up a larger plate vs. a smaller one.
- Use a fork instead of chopsticks.
- Leave less food leftover on their plate
- Chew fewer times per bite.
And my personal favorite:
- Put their napkin on the table or tucked into their shirt vs. on their lap.
“For heavier people to sit close enough to a table to eat comfortably, their stomachs usually touch the table, [Brian Wansink, director of Cornell University's Food and Brand Lab] said, “so putting your napkin in your lap, it doesn’t really work.”
Incisive analysis from a top tier university, brought to you by Crispy. You’re welcome.
