Nibbles: Watching TV as a teen leads to poor diet later, diabetes drug recalled in China and eating during and after “The Biggest Loser”
More TV predicts unhealthy diet
If you need another argument for why your teenagers shouldn’t spend so much time watching television, a University of Minnesota study of 2,000 kids found that those who watched the most television were more likely to follow an unhealthy diet five years later. Those who watched more than five hours of television a day in junior high or high school had lower consumption of fruits and vegetables, ate fewer whole grains and calcium-rich foods, and consumed more junk food, fast food, trans fats, fried food and sugary beverages five years later compared to those who watched less television. One reason for that may be that these are the sorts of foods that are advertised on television, researchers say.
Peanut company releases statement, had unlicensed plant in Texas
Hoping to calm some of the media reports about its Blakely, Georgia, plant, Peanut Corporation of America issued a statement saying the company is “deeply concerned” about victims of the salmonella outbreak and that the plant was regularly tested by inspectors and met or exceeded standards in safety inspections that took place last year. The same can’t be said for a plant the company runs in Texas, which reportedly operated without a license for years and went uninspected until the current outbreak was linked to the Georgia plant. No salmonella was found at the plant in Plainview, but the fact that a plant was allowed to operate without any oversight for nearly four years rightly scares a lot of people.
Two deaths linked to fake diabetes drug
China has told doctors to stop prescribing a diabetes drug after a fake batch of the drug was discovered, which killed two people. The drugs were labeled as being from the Guangxi Pingnan Pharmaceutical Co., but the company did not actually make them. Doctors and pharmacies are now having their stocks of the drug tested for quality.
Australians warned about diet programs
Pharmacies in Australia, and other parts of the world, sell diet plans to shoppers over the counter, but a study of how the programs are used in Australia found many problems. Half of the staff at pharmacies involved in the study by consumer watchdog group Choice had only had a few hours of training on the programs, which the group says is not enough. In most cases the undercover dieters were not asked about food and lifestyle habits or medical history before being given the pills and the plan, and some had even sold the diet pills to children. The Pharmacy Guild says the programs are safe and effective when used as directed. Choice says there needs to be a national accreditation program so that pharmacists can give customers better advice.
Learning to eat at and after the ranch
Finally, it’s pretty clear that people lose a lot of weight when they’re on “The Biggest Loser” because their diets are incredibly restricted and they work out for hours a day. Former contestants and the people who help them say they have to learn how to eat real food, and in the case of many of them that means learning how to cook. There’s not a chef on the ranch and no way to order in food, so contestants have to fend for themselves from the healthy supplies that are available. Many don’t like vegetables at all when they start and have to learn to enjoy healthier foods. There’s a touch of an eating disorder among people who are successful, who report they actually come to enjoy the feeling of hunger. But most of them don’t stick to their starving ways when they get home: one winner has regained 100 pounds and gaining back at least 50 pounds is relatively common.
(By Sarah E. White for CalorieLab Calorie Counter News)
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I’ve wondered about their eating on that show. They don’t really get into the specifics of it. They like to show them straining in the gym, but you don’t get to hear about their hunger unless its during a “temptation.” I want to feel the pain of their diets, not just the exercise! But I guess realities like that don’t bring in viewers.