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Feeling full is the secret to weight loss

fridge with foodIt is difficult to lose weight if you are hungry and tired because as blood sugar levels fall the brain begins hunting for food. It’s a natural survival instinct.

Unfortunately this is often confused, by those trying to lose weight, as being due to a lack of willpower which is often followed by feelings of guilt as they search for yet another biscuit or snack.

Gaining an understanding of the many factors contributing to a sense of fullness can provide some very powerful tools for those seeking to lose or control body weight and find more energy for life.

The satiety index

Australian researcher Dr Susanne Holt at the University of Sydney has developed a Satiety Index (SI).This helps to measure those foods that will contribute most to our feelings of fullness.

The calorie value is not an indicator of filling effect

The SI has proven that when comparing foods of equal calorie value they did not all behave the same. Potatoes were found to be three times more filling than a serving of pasta or rice. The SI has also rated whole grain breads twice as filling as white breads. Fish was found to be more satisfying per calorie than beef or chicken.

Gastric emptying time matters

Foods rich in protein such as cheese, meat, eggs, fish and baked beans rated second to potatoes for feelings of fullness. This could relate to the fact that protein rich foods delay gastric emptying time for up to four hours. This helps to explain why an egg or baked beans on toast for breakfast will satisfy appetite longer than a slice of toast with jam on it.

Moisture content is important

Foods that have a higher moisture binding capacity such as cheese, porridge and potatoes increase the viscosity of the stomach contents and are very satisfying. The bulkiness of foods also helps explain why oranges score more highly on the SI than orange juice. Fruit and popcorn also scored much higher on the SI than jellybeans, crisps, ice cream, cake and cookies.

The glycaemic index

The Glycaemic Index was developed by Dr J Jenkins at the University of Toronto in 1980 and later researched by Dr Brand-Miller. This index is a scientifically based method of assessing and comparing the effects of carbohydrate rich foods on blood sugar. It compares foods of equal carbohydrate content and ranks them according to their glycaemic impact relative to that of a standard food (usually glucose or white bread).

The lower the GI ranking of a food, the more slowly the carbohydrate in it is absorbed and therefore the better that food is for our health. A GI ranking greater than 70, means that food will release carbohydrate into our blood stream within ½ – 1 hour while food with a ranking less than 50 will release carbohydrate more slowly around 2 hours

The level of processing matters

GI rating is affected by food processing and the natural characteristics of the food and nutrient content (e.g. fibre, protein or fat content).

The presence of other nutrients alter GI

Carbohydrate foods that also contain protein and fat have a lower GI as seen in yoghurt and chocolate.

GI response is individual

The speed of a person response to the GI of food can also be different from one person to another and also within the same person, from day-to-day, depending on their blood sugar levels, their insulin response etc

Portion size affects GI

Research is now also focusing on the way in which varying the amounts of carbohydrate (the GI load) influences blood sugar control.

People who continually eat foods with a High GI such as biscuits, crackers, refined cereals and white bread often have difficulty losing weight because they are constantly hungry and therefore more likely to overeat than somebody consuming a diet containing more low GI foods.

The faecal bulking effect

New Zealand researcher Dr John Monro in 2002 measured the degree to which carbohydrate foods such as bread and cereals bulked up as they passed through the gut. He found that the more these foods bulked up the greater the sense of fullness and the better these foods were able to traverse the bowel.

As the foods absorb moisture they produce stools that are easier to pass. This helps to reduce the risk of bowel disease, constipation, diarrhoea and bowel cancer. Bulky foods also help to remove bile acids and salts which aid fat absorption, so they help to lower cholesterol and body weight too.

As an example the Faecal bulking index of some cereals San bran® 81.7; Sultana Bran® 20.8, Weetbix® 18, Muesli 17.2, Rolled Oats (Pams®) 16.9, Just right® 11.7, Special K® 7.5, Nutrigrain® 2.7, Corn flakes -1.7

The protein leverage hypothesis

This interesting hypothesis has been put forward by researchers led by Stephen Simpson and Alison Gosby from Sydney University in 2011. They hypothesied that including enough protein in our diet was more important than the number of calories consumed in sustaining appetites and curbing the excessive intake of fat and carbohydrate.

They discovered that people consuming 10% of their calories as protein ate more snacks and that these were higher in fat and carbohydrate than people eating 15% of their calories as protein. When protein intake increased to 25% no benefit was found over the 15%.

The researchers concluded that reducing calories in order to lose weight but failing to meet daily protein targets will make it harder for those wishing to lose weight to resist hunger pangs.

The role of sleep and stress on appetite control

When people are tired they often notice an increase in appetite as they search for energy to compensate. Appetite control is managed by our hormones which also regulate body processes. There are some key hormones which are activated by stress and lack of sleep that affect food intake and weight gain.

Cortisol

This provides the fight or flight response to stress that historically takes us away from danger. High levels of cortisol over time increases abdominal fat along with our risk of developing coronary heart disease, diabetes and stroke.

Ghrelin

This hormone increases our feelings of hunger. It also increases the more we become sleep deprived.

(Interestingly Ghrelin is also associated with growth hormone which explains why appetite increase as children grow).

Leptin

This hormone increases our feelings of fullness. This hormone may be depressed in those who are overweight or suffering from diabetes.

 A common scenario

So the cycle begins..we get upset so we eat more – abdominal fat gathers our sleep suffers.. we may feel hungrier..we gain more weight.  Interestingly people who have less abdominal fat to start with are less likely to gather it during times of stress than those people who already have a head start.

For more information read Lea’s articles: Is stress making you fat? and Sleep deprivation affects nutritional well-being and Are you a sneaky snacker?

Sum up

  • It’s easy to go on a diet. To restrict calories; to fast; to follow diet fads and eat more fat or more protein. Everyone has an opinion on what works best for them and maybe for you too.
  • We only have one body and one life. Time is running out and we need to learn how to respect it and build healthier lives.
  • Learning how to feel fuller on less food will not only save you money on your grocery bill but will also help the planet by reducing waste by overconsumption. For more ideas on this read Lea’s article on How much food do you waste each day?
  • When you feel “full” you can concentrate on the job in hand You can learn better, make better decisions that may save you time and energy which you can then divert into doing the things you love.
  • These studies on fullness help to show how science is helping to unravel all the elements that drive weight loss.
  • Dietitian’s have the knowledge and skills to help you pin point the nutritional drivers that are contributing to your weight gain.

If you would like us to help you move beyond dieting then contact us today.

References

Holt S, Brand-Miller J, Stitt P. The effects of equal portions of different bread on blood glucose levels, feelings of fullness and subsequent food intake. Journal of Amerc. Diet. Assoc. Vol 101, Issue 7 July 2001, 767-773.

Brand-Miller J, Pavlak D, McMillan J. Glycaemic index and obesity 1’2’3’4. Amer Soc of Clinical Nutrition vol 76 no1 2815-2855.

Munro J Faecal bulking efficacy of Australasian breakfast cereals. Asian Pacific Journal of Clinical Nutrition Sept 2002, vol11, Issue 3, 176-185.

Simpson S. The protein leverage hypothesis: What’s driving the obesity epidemic? Perspectives Nutrition News and Views. Issue 26, May 2009 ISSN 1446-6112

About the author View all

Lea Stening

Lea is one of New Zealand’s leading paediatric dietitians and also specialises in Sports Nutrition. She has specialised in Paediatric Nutrition for 31 years and in 1985 was the first paediatric dietitian to enter private practice in New Zealand. Lea helps families through her private consultations, public lectures, newspaper and magazine articles as well as television and radio interviews. Read more »

View all posts by Lea Stening »

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