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- New studies are coming up
- Are chubby people at an advantage?
- "Breathless stress types" stay slim
- Better on the hips than on the heart
- And what happens at Di ten?
- Relieve stress with movement
New studies clarify
Do you know that too? Especially in the summer, the season of figure-hugging clothes, the bad conscience appears on every scoop of ice cream. "Well, did you think that well? Is not the dress from last year a bit tight? "- whispers it in our ear. And then there's crispbread instead of cake. But at the latest after a week's diet, it often happens: We capitulate with the desire for sweets or hearty and bite full of enjoyment in a piece of pizza or a piece of yeast.
Often this is ridiculed as a lack of self-control. Which is not only unfair, but also wrong - explains Professor Achim Peters. In his new book "Myth Overweight . Why fat people live longer " proves the brain researchers, first, that it is not due to lack of will, if we can not resist delicious food - and second, that overweight is healthier than previously thought.
Are chubby people at an advantage?
First of all, it impressed doctors in the intensive care unit: whether kidney disorders, stroke, cerebral hemorrhage or cancer - chubby patients had better chances of survival on average. But: That goes up to a waist circumference of 88 cm for women and 102 cm for men! Professor Peters also believes that the positive aspects of low excess weight s far outweigh the negative ones.
He compared the data from more than 50 studies and came to the following conclusion: Fuller people are less likely to suffer from high blood pressure, depression, muscle weakness and osteoporosis. The likelihood of having a heart attack or stroke also decreases. Why is that? Chubby, the researchers are better protected against stress - and he is a worse disease than a few pounds too much.
Minus points the scientist sees only in the limited mobility and joint diseases. Hard to believe?
"Breathless stress types" stay slim
Not if you look at the reason: If the stress hormone cortisol is permanently increased, it can literally poison the body. The result: we age faster, muscle, bone and connective tissue reduce, the risk of heart attack and stroke increases. At least if we belong to the people who remain slim despite the stress.
Scientists call these the "breathless" stress types. You have a very sensitive stress system. Therefore, they are always "under power" internally under stress, namely the influence of cortisol - with correspondingly negative consequences.
The body reacts quite differently to people gaining pounds in those annoying times: they are called the "balanced" stress types. Your body is able to "shut down" and reduce the harmful hormones. The price for this: a weight gain. Because the brain of this type must be additionally supplied with sugar, especially in stressful situations. Consequently, more is eaten.
Better on the hips than on the heart
The problem: Unfortunately, of the calories consumed, only a small part gets into the energy hungry brain - the rest ends up on the hips. And even if this does not correspond to the (today's) ideal of beauty - it is far healthier than if the body is permanently under the harmful stress hormones. These are an additional stress factor that further increases cortisol levels. That's why starving is even dangerous.
And what happens with diets?
Due to the permanent lack of food, the brain is not properly supplied with energy. In this "emergency situation" it shuts down the less important functions to save energy. This leads to lack of concentration, fatigue and aversion - and thus causes additional stress. An eternal cycle!
The Doctors of the Obesity Outpatient Clinic at the Leipzig University Hospital also see diets critically. If the patients are healthy, diets make no sense, they are convinced. The only exception: when someone suffers from his joint problems. It is best, then, to accept his weight, instead of imitating alleged beauty ideals.
Relieve stress with movement
If you still want to lose weight, there is only one healthy way to do it: reduce stress - so that the brain does not demand so much more "extra calories". A good way is easier sport, eg brisk walking, swimming or cycling. 75 minutes of it weekly protect against heart attack and stroke. Studies also show that overweight athletes live three years longer than slim moan.
More information can be found under "Diet and Health " and on FACEBOOK .
