April health news: Why some women can't control their appetites

April health news: Why some women can't control their appetites

A new medical study finds that if you're a woman and you're hungry, you just can't help it. Find out what science reveals about women's and men's abilities to suppress their appetites.
Updated:
2009-09-22 22:05
Published:
2009-04-10 00:00
By 
Heather Camlot

Make smart food choices to control your appetite

Conquering obesity
The study's findings – published in the January edition of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences -- show the possibility that a woman's inability to suppress hunger may be directly tied to a higher rate of obesity and eating disorders like binge eating among women. It may also explain why women have a harder time losing weight. 

So what can a woman do to achieve a healthy weight if her brain is thinking for itself? Wang suggests going back in time."We can learn from our ancestors," he says, pointing to how today's even most basic foods like rice and bread are processed to make them taste better – and make you eat more. Whole grains and filling foods like salad drizzled with olive oil -- rather than fatty dressings – are key to shedding pounds. So is exercise, which helps boost your brain's activity and ward off obesity.

And as it happens, cognitive function (your brain's ability to learn and remember, for example) links right back to the dopamine system and your brain's reward centre. Now that's some food for thought.

Stock your kitchen with 10 superfoods and make it easier to grab healthy snacks for yourself before you start thinking about overly sweet, salty or fatty fixes.

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