Scientists find mind over matter important in dieting

BRAINPOWER is more important in dieting than scientists realised — not just in battling cravings but in physically changing the body’s reaction to the intake of food, according to a new study.

Whether or not we consider a food to be healthy has a big impact on a protein our bodies release to control metabolism and appetite, a researcher discovered. Participants who thought they were drinking a calorie-packed shake showed much greater and quicker spikes in a gut hormone, making them feel full faster, than those who were drinking what they thought was something healthier.

“When you are dieting, you want to eat fewer actual calories, but the mindset of ‘Okay, I’ve got to eat sensibly, I’ve got to eat low fat,’ ... regardless of what you are eating, is actually counter effective,” study researcher Alia Crum of Yale University said.