do health foods make you fat

glovepuppet
glovepuppet Posts: 1,710 Member
in Food and Nutrition
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-18601093

one experiment here is interesting.
the cientist gave two groups of people M&Ms to eat,
but one group had M&Ms labeled as low fat.
those eating 'low fat' ate 60% more M&Ms!

so are health food labels tricking -you- into eating more?

Replies

  • Flab2fitfi
    Flab2fitfi Posts: 1,349 Member
    It doe make sense. How often have you taken an extra slice or portion as its healthy or low fat?

    I know i have fallen into that trap to many times. Most of my weight has come from eating too much of the right stuff rather than too many chips etc.
  • MoreBean13
    MoreBean13 Posts: 8,701 Member
    Using a calorie counting tool like MFP should counteract that effect, although plenty of people still misjudge serving sizes. So hopefully the answer you get here should be a resounding "no!!". But misleading food marketing is really disgraceful, and takes advantage of people that don't know better. :ohwell:
  • hannyfran
    hannyfran Posts: 13
    Well, I don't think you could exactly call M&Ms "health foods", but yes, pretty much...
    I've noticed even in my own life, that I'll eat a bit more frozen yogurt than I should (because it's healthy) and things like that.
    Low fat, low sugar, pretty much low-anything foods can give you a sense that they're healthier, and some people will eat more. Personally, with most things (with the exception of soda and dairy products) I prefer to just enjoy the regular stuff in moderation. :)
  • AntWrig
    AntWrig Posts: 2,273 Member
    It doe make sense. How often have you taken an extra slice or portion as its healthy or low fat?

    I know i have fallen into that trap to many times. Most of my weight has come from eating too much of the right stuff rather than too many chips etc.
    There is no such thing as the "right" stuff. Food is food, you body is going to process 200 calories of sweet potato the same as it would 200 calories of M&M's. Now, that sweet potato will have additional nutrients and vitamins though. That being said, it's all in the mind. When people think of something as healthy they will probably overeat that food. Nuts, especially ALMONDS are a perfect example.
  • kdeaux1959
    kdeaux1959 Posts: 2,675 Member
    http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-18601093

    one experiment here is interesting.
    the cientist gave two groups of people M&Ms to eat,
    but one group had M&Ms labeled as low fat.
    those eating 'low fat' ate 60% more M&Ms!

    so are health food labels tricking -you- into eating more?

    too much of anything is bad.
  • hannyfran
    hannyfran Posts: 13
    Using a calorie counting tool like MFP should counteract that effect, although plenty of people still misjudge serving sizes. So hopefully the answer you get here should be a resounding "no!!". But misleading food marketing is really disgraceful, and takes advantage of people that don't know better. :ohwell:

    I agree with you about the food marketing. Also, in my personal opinion, the serving sizes on boxes need to be changed to be more accurate. I did a very interesting experiment about a year ago, instead of estimating my portion sizes, I measured them out. I realized that instead of having one 3/4 cup serving of cereal, I was really eating about twice that...
  • Brandicaloriecountess
    Brandicaloriecountess Posts: 2,126 Member
    That's why I practice portion control. I'll eat one serving of anything I want to eat.
  • AntWrig
    AntWrig Posts: 2,273 Member
    Using a calorie counting tool like MFP should counteract that effect, although plenty of people still misjudge serving sizes. So hopefully the answer you get here should be a resounding "no!!". But misleading food marketing is really disgraceful, and takes advantage of people that don't know better. :ohwell:

    I agree with you about the food marketing. Also, in my personal opinion, the serving sizes on boxes need to be changed to be more accurate. I did a very interesting experiment about a year ago, instead of estimating my portion sizes, I measured them out. I realized that instead of having one 3/4 cup serving of cereal, I was really eating about twice that...
    Umm, they are accurate. If you were eating twice that, it's your fault, not the measurement.
  • bathsheba_c
    bathsheba_c Posts: 1,873 Member
    Of course, there's also the fact that a lot of "health" foods are actually not all that healthy for you. Sure, your granola bar has granola. It also has sugar, chocolate chips, and sweetened or already sugary dried fruit. Plain oatmeal with berries, it is not.
  • chuckyp
    chuckyp Posts: 693 Member
    Using a calorie counting tool like MFP should counteract that effect, although plenty of people still misjudge serving sizes. So hopefully the answer you get here should be a resounding "no!!". But misleading food marketing is really disgraceful, and takes advantage of people that don't know better. :ohwell:

    I agree with you about the food marketing. Also, in my personal opinion, the serving sizes on boxes need to be changed to be more accurate. I did a very interesting experiment about a year ago, instead of estimating my portion sizes, I measured them out. I realized that instead of having one 3/4 cup serving of cereal, I was really eating about twice that...
    Umm, they are accurate. If you were eating twice that, it's your fault, not the measurement.

    I'm guessing she meant the portion sizes should be more "realistic", rather than more "accurate". Because who the hell eats only 3/4 cup of cereal? Or half of an individual sized pizza, etc? I think they make the portions small so the food looks lower in Calories at first glance.
  • glovepuppet
    glovepuppet Posts: 1,710 Member
    giving calories for a serving size so small that nobody would usually eat it IS misleading.
    i could market my 12" pizza as ''ONLY 40 CALORIES PER SERVING!'', then put in miniscule small print that a serving is a one inch square.
  • MoreBean13
    MoreBean13 Posts: 8,701 Member
    Using a calorie counting tool like MFP should counteract that effect, although plenty of people still misjudge serving sizes. So hopefully the answer you get here should be a resounding "no!!". But misleading food marketing is really disgraceful, and takes advantage of people that don't know better. :ohwell:

    I agree with you about the food marketing. Also, in my personal opinion, the serving sizes on boxes need to be changed to be more accurate. I did a very interesting experiment about a year ago, instead of estimating my portion sizes, I measured them out. I realized that instead of having one 3/4 cup serving of cereal, I was really eating about twice that...
    Umm, they are accurate. If you were eating twice that, it's your fault, not the measurement.

    I'm guessing she meant the portion sizes should be more "realistic", rather than more "accurate". Because who the hell eats only 3/4 cup of cereal? Or half of an individual sized pizza, etc? I think they make the portions small so the food looks lower in Calories at first glance.

    I had a minor outburst about this recently- I bought gatorade g2 powder packs- and the serving size is "2/5 packet" what!?! I get it- it was sized to put in to a 20-oz bottle which is 2.5 8-oz servings, but still- that is the stupidest serving labeling I've seen yet!
  • JustJenn1980
    JustJenn1980 Posts: 6
    Thanks for sharing this, it has helped me think a lot about certain low fat, "healthy" foods!
  • glovepuppet
    glovepuppet Posts: 1,710 Member
    i do recall a shopping trip with my eternally dieting sister, who (despite trying every food fad she can find) remains obese.

    she picked up the branded, aimed at dieters pitta breads. i picked up the generic, wholemeal pittas that cost half as much. she gave me a look, so i took her packet, flipped them both over and showed her the numbers. no surprise, mine was lower in fat and calories.

    people are being fooled into believing they're making healthy choices. when it's people's health or even their lives that are at stake, it doesn't seem right.
  • LaMujerMasBonitaDelMundo
    LaMujerMasBonitaDelMundo Posts: 3,634 Member
    Food doesn't make you fat, calorie surplus is the one that makes you fat no matter if those calories came from healthy foods or not. In contrast, you can have an all junk food diet & still lose weight.
  • sarah3333
    sarah3333 Posts: 222 Member
    Using a calorie counting tool like MFP should counteract that effect, although plenty of people still misjudge serving sizes. So hopefully the answer you get here should be a resounding "no!!". But misleading food marketing is really disgraceful, and takes advantage of people that don't know better. :ohwell:

    I agree with you about the food marketing. Also, in my personal opinion, the serving sizes on boxes need to be changed to be more accurate. I did a very interesting experiment about a year ago, instead of estimating my portion sizes, I measured them out. I realized that instead of having one 3/4 cup serving of cereal, I was really eating about twice that...

    I noticed the other day that on my jar of 25% less sodium pickles, the serving size was 3/4 pickle.... I wanted to call Valasic and say, for real?!? Yeah, that kinda ticked me off.
  • Pimpmonkey
    Pimpmonkey Posts: 566
    I have been fooled by packaging many times before! Now I know better!
  • glovepuppet
    glovepuppet Posts: 1,710 Member
    eventually it becomes second nature to read all the small print.

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