Eating 'Fitness Snacks' may not be the healthy alternative for staying fit

Research shows that fitness snacks make people less likely to work out.

We often hear the term "fitness food" or see products that are marketed as a healthy and guilt-free alternatives to chocolates and chips, or a way to fight cravings and hunger pangs. But could these "fitness foods" really be the key to keeping oneself healthy and fit?

MUNTINLUPA, PHILIPPINES (Catholic Online) - A study conducted by the Pennsylvania State University and Technische Universität in Munich, investigated the effects of fitness-branded food in "restrained eaters", people who are chronically concerned about their body weight. Their studies indicate that "fitness foods" are luring weight conscious individuals into a false sense of security.

"Branding the product as 'fit' increased consumption for those trying to watch their weight. To make matters worse, these eaters also reduced their physical activity, apparently seeing the 'fit' food as a substitute for exercise," reported the study's authors, writing in the Journal of Marketing Research.

During the study, weight conscious participants were given trail-mix style snacks marked either "Trail Mix" or "Fitness," where the "Fitness" snack had a picture of running shoes to make it appear healthy. One phases of the experiment included test subjects helping themselves to the food samples as an afternoon snack, while another stage gave them an option to exercise on a stationary bike after eating the snacks.  

The results show the participants had a tendency to eat more of the snacks labeled "Fitness" and they burned fewer calories during the exercise phase, since, presumably, they felt a lesser need to work out. Given these results, the researchers stressed companies' responsibility to remind consumers that exercise and proper diet are still necessary, or "place more emphasis on monitoring fitness cues in marketing."

Last year, leading science expert Dr. Michael Moseley warned that going to the gym can actually cause weight gain. The problem being that most would reward themselves with "treats" after a grueling workout, which Dr. Moseley defined as the "I've been to the gym, so I can eat what I want mentality."

Oftentimes, people understate the calorie content of certain "treats," such as a muffin or a latte. He explains that both are high in calories, which then require more effort and exercise to burn the calories.

"That is why people never lose weight going to the gym in the long-run," said Dr. Moseley.

---

'Help Give every Student and Teacher FREE resources for a world-class Moral Catholic Education'

Copyright 2021 - Distributed by Catholic Online