A British study looked at the effects of overeating on the body.
Eating pizza until you can’t swallow a crumb? British men took up the challenge for the Center for Nutrition, Exercise and Metabolism at the University of Bath (UK). Researchers asked them to eat as many slices of pizza as possible to understand the effects of this type of diet on the body. They realized that the body is able to adapt to excessive food intake. Their results are presented in British Journal of Nutrition.
The body adapts!
A diet is said to be normal when it allows us to feel full, and maximum when we eat to the point of not being able to swallow anything more. The men recruited for the study were between 22 and 37 years old and in good health. They consumed on average twice as much pizza as they usually eat to feel full. However, their blood tests show that their body has been able to manage this exceptional caloric intake.
More tired volunteers
On average, the volunteers consumed 3,000 calories. But their blood sugar levels were no higher than after a meal with normal amounts. Insulin, whose role is to control blood sugar levels, was 50% higher than usual. The lipid level was slightly higher. The biggest change seen is in the hormones in the gut, they help secrete insulin and keep us feeling full. “This shows that if a healthy person occasionally overindulges, there is no immediate, negative effect on metabolism.”, explain the researchers. However, the experience had consequences on the feelings of the volunteers: 4 hours after the meal, they felt tired or even lethargic. No food appealed to them, except for sweet products.
Harmless excesses if they remain occasional
“We know that people often eat more than they need, which is why so many of us struggle to control our weight. It is therefore surprising that no previous study has measured the ability maximum ingestion to understand the body’s reaction”, explains James Betts, who supervised the research. According to him, his results are proof that occasional excesses are not dangerous. “The problem with overeating is that it makes us store more energy, it can cause obesity if we eat too much every day.” It’s all about balance!
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