Well, the BBC broadcast this documentary last night and I managed to see it. Do read the article to see all the science stuff but the programme included an experiment with volunteers who had to endure 'enforced gluttony' for four weeks - 'gorging on as much pizza, chips, ice cream and chocolate as they could, while doing no exercise, and severely limiting the amount they walked'.
If you have access to the BBC's iPlayer, you can watch it here:
Several things struck me:
First, although the participants - in everyday life - could eat whatever they wanted, they all said the same thing - they wouldn't/couldn't eat, if they weren't hungry. Simple as.
Second, they were gobsmacked about HOW and WHEN they would find the time to eat all the food! That was a sad moment for me - there are many days when I have made time to eat that volume of food - to the exclusion of everything else. Somehow, I made the time. What a waste.
Third, they simply didn't have an emotional relationship with food. Food was fuel for them and the women were particularly appalled by the effects of the extra pounds (caused by the experiment) - muffin tops, blah blah blah. There was slight shame/embarrassment on the women's part (I felt) while the guys patted their expanded waistlines with pride.
Fourth, one guy commented on the fact that he now knew the calorific value of everything - much to the annoyance of his friends and girlfriend. He could recite foods and their calorie content, followed by a comment along the lines of 'is it really worth it'. Of course, serious dieters will know all about calorie content so the contrast (in his before and after) was fascinating.
The science stuff was more of what we know - once the fat cells are in our bodies, they are there for life. And for the serial dieter, those cells will expand at the whiff of a chocolate bar!
There was lots of stuff about genes (which I need to understand) and whether being fat was a virus (and contagious).
The other main message that I got was that if weight maintenance is to be successful, getting used to living with a permanent feeling of hunger was a must.
Blimey.
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