Prior research has found higher rates of obesity among African Americans as compared with other ethnic groups. To expand upon this, Lorraine Reitzel and her research team studied more than 1,400 African Americans in this new study examining the relationships between body mass index (BMI) and proximity and density of fast food restaurants. Even after controlling [...]
The answer: not really. So who is a “fat talker?” According to Alexandra Corning, the director of Notre Dame’s Body Image and Eating Disorder Lab, a “fat talker” is a girl or woman who engages in self-disparaging remarks about her body, regardless of whether or not she is overweight. Corning’s study found that peers rated women [...]
Despite the widespread use of antidepressants in the last decade, depression rates continue to steadily climb. In fact, recent research indicates that approximately one in four Americans will meet the diagnostic criteria for depression at some point in their lives. This makes depression the most pervasive mental illness in our society. A recent study from the University [...]
Back in December, Daniel Callahan published his piece “Obesity: Chasing an Elusive Epidemic” where he made the controversial suggestion that stigmatization of the overweight/obesity will ease the “obesity epidemic”. As you may know, the DiSH Lab strongly promotes weight acceptance, and much of our current research investigates the detrimental physical and psychological effects of exposure [...]
When a person gains weight, it is pretty clear that their body goes through a physical change, but what other changes might accompany this process? Angelina Sutin of the Florida State University College of Medicine, sought the answer in this recent study of residents of Baltimore (over 1,900 participants). As expected, participants who had at least a [...]
In recent years, restaurants have received a lot of pressure to include their meals’ calorie contents on menus. But does this really change how much a customer will order? Does anyone even know what calorie content is measuring? Studies have shown that having calorie information actually leads people to order more food which, if anything, [...]
To memorialize the untimely passing of one of the DiSH Lab’s heroes Toni Yancey, tomorrow May 7th at 1pm PDT (4 m EDT) we will join in a nationwide 10-minute instant recess. At UCLA, you can meet up with us at the CHS courtyard, but wherever you are, this is a wonderful way to honor [...]
We often blame societal pressure, advertisements, magazines, and beauty campaigns for the fact that eating disorders are more common among women than men. It turns out, however, that biology may also be a culprit of this discrepancy, at least when it comes to binge eating. Although it is difficult, or even impossible, to nullify societal [...]
With the goal of raising happy and healthy children, many parents strive to ensure that their kids are eating the right foods and in the right amounts. However, a recent study published in the journal Pediatrics found that parents’ intervening over what their children eat may not be helpful in maintaining a healthy weight. Restricting calorie [...]
As people are becoming more health conscious, it is difficult to decide whether we should focus our energy on changing our diet or boosting physical activity. This study out of Stanford University School of Medicine found that participants who engaged in both exercise and diet were able to achieve the nationally recommended goals of 150 minutes of [...]
