Eating too fast can lead to obesity - expert

ASKING THE EXPERT

Dear Dr Grace, I have a friend who eats too fast, at meal time. Growing up, my mum used to warn us about eating too fast, that it would cause us many problems apart from choking. I want to advise him to change his ways, but I don't remember the exact reasons my mum gave us. Please tell me what the dangers of eating too fast are.

Nancy

RESPONSE . . .

Dear Nancy, This is a common practice among youth and busy people. These people always eat their food very fast and mindlessly. This habit can lead to overeating, weight gain and obesity. When you eat fast it is much easier to eat a lot more food than the body requires, causing you to consume excess calories.

People who eat fast always get difficulty when food is channeled to the wrong route like one responsible for air passage, which can lead to chocking.

Having excess calories in the body leads to weight gain, obesity and bad cholesterol. Eating very fast can also lead to other health complication which may be dangerous and these include insulin resistance which always leads to type 2 diabetes and poor digestion.

Slow down your eating speed

Eating slowly is healthy because it increases the level of satiety hormones which help you to feel more full and decrease calories intake. It also enables you to enjoy the food and allows ample time for digestion to take place.

• Avoid watching TV or using a computer, phones or other distraction while eating, which may lead you to eat fast and mindlessly.

• Avoid becoming extremely hungry between meals. It can make you eat too fast and make poor food decisions. To avoid this, keep some healthy snacks around you to prevent this from happening.

• Always have food with high fibre content like fruits and vegetables.

• Chew food thoroughly before swallowing to increase the rate of digestion. While eating fast can save you a few minutes during mealtimes, it may also increase your risk of a range of health problems.

Dr. Grace Nambatya Kyeyune has a PhD in Medicinal Chemistry. Got any inquiries about nutrition for her, send an email to: sundayxtra@newvision.co.ug