It’s big bucks time for the weight-loss industry again, so Alice Ball looks at whether, when it comes to trying to watch our weight, one size can really fit all.
As the last of the seasonal decorations are taken down and those of us in colder countries settle into the January gloom, some of us may now be feeling the effect of one mince pie too many. But before we start scrolling through social media or lingering over the lists of best-selling diets, should we take it for granted that what worked for some slimmed-down celeb (who’s now pushing their new diet book/workout) will really work for us too?
The diet industry has become increasingly saturated, making the task of selecting a weight-loss plan overwhelming to say the least. When it comes to the basics, however, many modern commercial diets can be categorised by different characteristics: calorie counting; low-carb or low glycaemic index (GI) — which is, essentially, low-carb; and fasting diets.
According to Public Health England’s Eatwell Guidelines, we should look to consume approximately 2,000-2,500 calories per day depending on whether we’re female or male. But Linia Patel, a registered dietitian from the British Dietetic Association tells us to remember that these numbers are guidelines for the general public and may not be suitable for everyone.
“The key with weight-loss is that you create an energy deficit from your daily caloric intake that results in sustained weight-loss,” she says. “Science suggests that creating a calorie deficit of +/- 500 calories per day from your usual intake will result in a sustainable weight-loss of 0.5 kg per week.”
In scientific terms, your ‘usual intake’ is known as your total daily energy expenditure (TDEE) — the amount of calories your body expends in 24 hours, taking into account all physical activity. According to Patel, your TDEE is determined by several factors including age, sex and activity level. “That is why you can’t just follow any diet plan you find on the internet or see in a magazine,” she says.
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Denne historien er fra Winter 2018/19-utgaven av Optimum Nutrition.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
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Summer Of
Summer is when we want to be out and about, as the warm embrace of the sofa on a cold winter’s night becomes a distant memory. So where do you go when the brain is willing but the body just can’t cut it at the same level of performance that it managed decades ago? Graeme Wilcockson reviews a few ways to satisfy those competitive weekend instincts that will tax both mind and body — yet leave you able to move on Monday morning
Common Kitchen Practices Making Us Sick
Every year, thousands of us fall sick from food poisoning because of how we have handled food. Louise Scodie and Louise Wates look at common ways in which we are going wrong
Could Antioxidants Save Our Bacan?
Nitrates and nitrites have long been linked to cancer. We look at how they are part of a chain reaction that may not always be harmful to human health... So what’s the case with bacon?
Eat For A Glow That Is More Than Skin Deep
Now that summer is here, it’s time to peel off the layers and make some vitamin D. But if your skin isn’t as peachy as you would like, or if you are worried about staying safe in the sun, find out how good nutrition may support your skin’s health. Maggie Charlesworth writes
Natural Beauty
If headlines about microbeads from cosmetics polluting our seas have got you wondering how you can do your bit for the environment, try using nature’s harvest to feed your skin. Hannah Maryse Robinson writes
A Summer Selection Of Goods And Goodies
Lazy Vegan frozen Chunky Pulled Peaz is a gluten-free, plant-based protein source suitable for vegans and — with a substantial texture — flexitarians.
Do Something Different
As many of us are concerned about keeping our brains active, Ellie Smith investigates whether trying something completely new could boost both our brain health and mental wellbeing
Lifting Weights, Lifting Confidence
When Bianca Mills was bullied at school she could not have dreamt that she would be able to speak in front of a group of women, let alone coach them in lifting free weights. She told Louise Wates why she believes buddying-up is just as important as physical strength for fostering confidence
Teaching Children How To Forage
Catherine Morgan finds out how foraging can teach children (and adults) about more than nature’s store cupboard, and can foster an understanding of and respect for the environment.
Keep Calm And Curry On
In August, India celebrates the anniversary of Indian Independence, yet the Anglo-Indian community, a legacy of the British Raj with its roots in European and Indian ancestry, still treads the cultural line between both communities. Jenny Mallin, author of A Grandmother’s Legacy, tells us about the fusion food in her family and recipes passed down through the generations
