Home > Plasmid: Science and bio-tech research blog > Archives > 2006 > June > 12
Monday, June 12, 2006
Banish the Belly Fat
Time to clean out the fridge.
Those kill-joy researchers at Wake Forest University School of Medicine have found out that the rounded “apple” shaped bodies we see everywhere (maybe in the mirror?) are probably linked to the fried foods we eat, not just how many calories we count.
Their experiment went like this: Two groups of monkeys were fed diets with an equal numbers of calories.
One group of monkeys got many of their calories from trans fats. Those are the fats found in most restaurants’ deep friers.
The other group was fed monounsaturated fat — more typically found in olive oil.
The results? Picture chunky monkeys…
Over six years, male monkeys fed a western-style diet that contains trans fat had a 7.2 percent increase in body weight, compared to a 1.8 percent increase in monkeys that ate monounsaturated fats, such as olive oil.
“We believed they couldn’t get obese because we did not give them enough calories to get fat,” said Lawrence L. Rudel, head of Wake Forest’s Lipid Sciences Research Program. “What it says is that trans fat is worse than anticipated.”
That extra weight went straight to the monkeys’ bellies. Keep in mind, belly fat is associated with an increased risk of diabetes and heart disease. The study results were presented Monday at 66th annual Scientific Sessions of the American Diabetes Association in Washington, D.C.
Soooooooo yesterday:
McDonald’s Chicken Nuggets
French fries
Krispy Kreme donuts
Extra crispy KFC
Pilsbury crescent rolls dripping in margarine
Left over Betty Crocker chocolate frosting, eaten with a spoon, cold from the fridge
Hostess Twinkies, Ding-Dongs or Ho-Hos, with their cream filling sucked out
Packages of pre-made cookie dough
Ready-bake taco salad shells
Publix birthday cakes
All-you-can-eat fish and chips….
