What are problematic food?

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In a study at Penn State University, researchers asked 186 women—who they classified with “overweight” or “obesity”—to rank the “foods you can’t resist and find hard to stop eating.”

The foods that most frequently topped the participants’ lists:
  1. Ice cream
  2. Chips
  3. Chocolate
  4. Cookies
  5. Pizza
The scientists then had participants follow a 12-month weight loss program, and monitored their strategies for managing these “problem” foods.
 
The result: Overall, the total avoidance of problematic foods—what you often see on “extreme” diets or “quick-fix” weight loss plans—wasn’t an effective strategy.

So what did help? Limiting the portion sizes of problem foods—instead of giving them up altogether—was strongly related to weight loss. 

In fact, participants who used this strategy the most lost, on average, nearly double the weight as those who used it the least (7KG versus 4KG). 

To be sure, if some foods make you feel out of control, you may want to put some boundaries around them. That doesn’t mean you can never eat them. 

It just means you’re aware they back be a problem, and you’re going to be intentional about how and when you eat them. (A coach can help you with this.)

❤️ As a Nutrition Coach, I empower young adults with sustainable health tips.