Can thinking really make you fat? The Universite Laval study indicates that, although intellectual work sessions expended only three more calories than non-intellectual work sessions, those who thought more indeed also ate more, post-activity. In fact, participants who took on the challenging intellectual tasks consumed up to 29.4 percent more calories than those who did not. One reason for this behavioral discrepancy could be chemical: more grueling intellectual work corresponded with greater fluctuations of glucose and insulin in the body. These findings raise questions regarding whether the brain, after being taxed, attempts to replenish its energy (glucose) through urging the body to eat more. Before you gear up to blame any excess weight on your superior intellectual activity, remember that the basic equation of too many calories plus not enough movement still equals weight gain. Clearly, though, it’s best not to think about it too much, and instead just go work out. Via: The Telegraph (UK)
