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Latest Diet News January 2012
OFT considers gym membership contracts
The OFT (Office of Fair Trading) has begun an investigation, under
the Enterprise Act 2002, into a number of companies that operate
gym and fitness clubs, and has warned that many gym contracts may
be in breach of the Consumer Contracts Regulations 1999 and that
their practices may fall under the Unfair Trading Regulations 2008.
They are investigating lengthy gym contracts that customers are
tied into and are finding difficult to cancel following a change
in circumstances, and whether this practice is fair. All the UKs
major national gym chains are to be considered.
This investigation follows a high court case between the OFT and
a company that arranges contracts and collects payments for gyms.
The judge ruled that a contract longer than 12 months, and one that
did not allow the customer to cancel with 30 days notice and pay
a moderate sum in compensation was deemed unfair. The OFT warned
that there would be wider implications for gym and fitness clubs.
The '321 Baby Bulge Be Gone' works for Jessica
Alba
Jessica Alba has revealed that she followed The
321 Baby Bulge Be Gone diet and exercise programme, to get back
into shape after her latest pregnancy. The 321 diet, created by
personal trainer Ramona Braganza, involves 3 sets
of cardio, 2 circuits and 1 core
exercises and a low-carb diet regime.
More info: 3-2-1 Baby
Bulge Be Gone
 Too
much bacon can raise your risk of pancreatic cancer
New reports have highlighted the risks of regular consumption of
processed meat in your diet as raising the risk of pancreatic cancer.
Just eating two rashers of bacon daily can increase the risk of
pancreatic cancer by 19%.
There is also evidence that being overweight or obese increases
the risk of pancreatic cancer. The study was published in the British
Journal of Cancer and used data from 11 trials and 6,643 patients
with pancreatic cancer.
The World Cancer Research Fund have recommended limiting the intake
of red meat to 500g cooked weight a week and to avoid processed
meat.
MPs call for 2-days without drink recommendation
A recent report from MPs has called for a revision of safe drinking
limits as they believe the general public is receiving confusing information
about alcohol intake. They suggest that drinkers should drop alcohol
at least twice a week for their health. The maximum advised number
of alcohol units per week is 21 for men and 14 for women. The Royal
College of Physicians has supported the committee's suggestions.
Less calories are more important than high-protein/low-carb
diet
A recent US study has found that it is how much
you eat that matters, rather than what you eat.
Merely adjusting your diet's components of protein, fat and carbohydrates
will not enable you to lose weight. The body will build fat if it
has excess calories, regardless of whether they are from protein
or carbs. The participants of the study were put on low, medium
and high-protein diets and all put on weight, despite expectations
that a high-protein diet would increase weight loss.
Kirstie Alley creates organic weight loss
programme
Actress and former "Dancing With the Stars" contestant
Kirstie Alley dropped 100 pounds and went down
an amazing 10 dress sizes. She now runs her own weight loss and
diet programme - Organic Liasons, supplying formulas specifically
developed to reduce cravings, increase energy, promote relaxation
and aid rest.
Her plan involves eating six small organic meals a day, along with
supplements and exercising for an hour daily. The diet products
are only offered online and online membership is required. Actress,
Kelly Preston has been reported as having lost
her extra weight after pregnancy, by following the Organic
Liason programme.
Kirstie has launched a campaign to help people lose weight by dancing
for the next 100 days. Every day from January 1st 2012 there will
be a dance video from Kirstie online, to help encourage fun and
healthy exercise. 100
days of dance
 Sitting
can make you fat
Researchers from Tel Aviv University have been studying how fat
cells react to pressure. Under laboratory conditions, fat cells
from mice were placed under mechanical force, to mimic what happens
to fat tissue when we sit.
It was discovered that under force the fat cells produce fat at
a faster rate - up to 50% more fat. This can triggger the metabolism
to slow down and cause the body to store energy, producing more
fat cells and less muscle. Other research involving the reaction
of pressure on the body has shown muscle loss in bed-ridden patients.
This study doesn't prove conclusively that sitting will give you
a big bottom, further research is needed. The best way to avoid
getting a fat bottom is to eat sensibly and exercise regularly.
If you have a sedentary job try and get up every now and then and
walk about.
Janet Jackson endorses Nutrisystem
Janet Jackson has become the new spokeswoman for Nutrisystem -
a weight-loss programme with home delivered packaged meals. She
lost 10 pounds in just over a month, and has been reported as finding
the eating plan helpful with keeping her weight under control. For
many years she has battled weight fluctuations.
More info: Nutrisystem
Two day diet works and lowers breast cancer
risk
A study at Manchester University hospital, involving 115 women,
has shown that those following a low-carb diet for 2 days a week
have a lower risk of developing breast cancer, compared to those
on a calorie-controlled diet for 7 days a week.
The researchers compared the effectiveness of a low-carbohydrate
diet, the Mediterranean diet and a standard calorie restricted diet
in order to lose weight and also to lower their insulin blood levels.
High blood insulin levels are known to raise cancer risk.
The women following the no-carb diet for just 2 days a week lost
an average of 9 pounds over four months and lowered their insulin
blood level.
 Young
people feel body image pressure
A study by the YMCA, involving over 800 young people aged between
11-16 years old, found that 25% were prepared to undergo plastic surgery
to improve their body image.
One in ten boys felt pressured to take steroids to improve their physique,
and one in eight girls considered taking diet pills to control their
weight. Anorexia and other eating disorders are already being seen
in younger children, as the pressure builds to have a perfect body
from a young age.
Nigella's weight loss success due to Clean
and Lean plan
TV cook and writer, Nigella Lawson, has been reported
as having followed the Bodyism
Clean and Lean plan to achieve her fabulous new figure.
The once curvaceous 'domestic goddess' has apparently dropped many
dress sizes with the Clean and Lean plan, joining other successful
celebrity diet followers, such as Elle Macpherson
and Rosie Huntington-Whiteley.
 More
obese women in UK than rest of Europe
Latest European Union figures has revealed that 23.9% of UK women
were recorded as being obese in the year 2008 to 2009. The UK had
the highest number of obese females of all the 19 countries surveyed.
Malta followed next with 21.1% obese women and then Latvia, with
20.9%.
The UK is shown to have an obesity problem among the younger age
group, with 16.6% of the 18-24 age group obese, whereas the other
European countries showed less than 11%. The figures from the European
Health Interview Survey (EHIS) suggest that the proportion of obese
women falls as the educational level rises.
Obesity is defined as a person with a BMI of over 30. Between 25
and 30 defines you as overweight. The BMI (Body Mass Index) measures
a person's weight relative to their height - calculated by dividing
body weight by body height squared.
Check
your BMI with our BMI calculator
Recently the Health Secretary, Andrew Lansley, announced a new
goal to bring down the UK's obesity levels by 2020. Hospital admissions
for obesity have risen by more than 30%.
 Wobbly
tums worry women
The latest market research has shown that the waistline is the prime
body area that bothers most women. 69% of the women surveyed longed
for a
flat stomach and worried about putting on weight around the middle,
and developing a 'muffin top'. The concern about the midriff was the
same for young and old age groups.
The stomach is recognised as being one of the most difficult parts
of the body to lose weight from, and requires a strict diet and exercise
programme to achieve a 6-pack or washboard effect. The next problem
area to worry women was the thighs, with 48 per cent of women. Then
followed bottoms, hips and upper arms in order of concern.
X-Factor Diet
It has been reported, that X-Factor star Craig Colton has been
receiving diet advice from judge Gary Barlow. He has apparently
been eating mainly vegetable meals, consisting of 80% cooked vegetables,
20% meat and 20% raw veg, and has dropped pounds on this diet plan.
 Texting
helps you lose weight
A recent US study, involving 52 overweight students, found that
mobile phones can be a useful tool to help dieters.
During 8 weeks, the students who were part of a Facebook diet group
- receiving online diet advice and support from other group members
- lost an average of 1.4 pounds.
A second group were also members of the Facebook diet group, but
also received personalised text messages to help them lose weight,
and they lost on average 5.3 pounds.
The personalised feedback gave the dieters the feeling of being
held accountable for their calorie intake and exercise, and helped
them to lose those extra pounds.
Eating slowly can help you to lose weight
Researchers are currently studying links between the speed you
consume food and success with weight-loss. Research has shown that
those who eat their food slowly tend to consume less calories, and
usually weigh less than those who eat quickly. The study also revealed
that men consumed around 80 calories per minute, while women ate
about 52 calories per minute.
It is thought that eating slowly gives the brain a chance to register
the intake of food, helping you to avoid overeating. Faster eaters
tend to take bigger mouthfuls and chew less. Japanese research has
already suggested that appetite can be suppressed by eating food
slowly. The study will examine in detail whether the speed of eating
can affect the appetite, and how much energy is burnt in the process.
Are you losing pounds on your diet?
A survey of the latest prices from the top diet companies has revealed
how many pounds you are likely to lose from your wallet, whilst
hopefully dropping pounds from your figure.
Fees for 3 months online diet membership Jan 2012
Sainsbury's
Diets £15.00
Tesco Diets
£29.90
Weight
Watchers £32.85
Rosemary
Conley £54.99
Slimming
World £60
There are often savings and special offers from most diet companies,
such as paying for a 3 month subscription and receiving a percentage
off.
FREE
online diet with delicious recipes
 Daily
drinking can damage your health
The Royal College of Physicians (RCP) have expressed their concern
that the Government's policy on healthy drinking limits is misleading.
The doctors believe that the guidelines imply that it is safe for
people to drink alcohol daily. Official recommendation is that men
should have no more than 21 units of alcohol a week, and women no
more than14 units.
The RCP agree with the limits, but also believe that drinkers should
aim to have two to three days a week without any alcohol, so their
bodies can recover. Daily drinking with no rest days can increase
the chances of damaging the liver, alcohol dependence and other
serious illnesses.
How
to reduce alcohol
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