Eating a variety of foods at mealtime may help you get the vitamins and nutrients you need, but the practice can also contribute to obesity, according to a review by the American Psychological Society.
According to this story published by Science Daily, when we eat a variety of foods we're less likely to reach the point of feeling full. Conversely, the researchers say, when we eat just one food -- or foods similar in taste and texture -- we eat less because we can only eat a certain amount of similar-tasting food at one sitting.
The authors of the review looked at 58 previous studies to form their conclusions. The authors -- Hollie A. Raynor and Leonard H. Epstein of the University of Buffalo -- say they found that when both animals and human beings were given a variety of foods to eat, they consumed more than if they were given just one kind of food. To read the full text of their article, go to the Psychological Bulletin.
The Duke Diet & Fitness Center has programs and facts to help you lose weight. And the American Obesity Association is an advocate for obese people who face discrimination.
The New England Medical Center explains how obesity can affect your health.
