Report: Healthy Side Dishes can be Misleading

10/15/2010

Recent media reports are suggesting that some people who struggle to maintain a healthy weight may be victims of a "dieter's paradox."

For example, a report from WBZ-TV in Boston describes how many dieters appear to think they are consuming fewer calories when they eat a blend of healthy and unhealthy foods during a meal.

The television station gave the example of a study where dieters estimated that a cheeseburger contained 734 calories. However, when celery sticks were added to the plate, people estimated that the burger contained 619 calories. The report added that with this in mind, researchers believe dieters should focus more on the overall quantity of food they eat as opposed to whether their meal items are "good" or "bad" for them.

Separate research has warned that nearly half of the American public will be overweight or obese in the coming years, which carries serious implications for public health as well as for the life and health insurance industries.

People who want to save money on life or health insurance can start by shopping around for the most affordable premiums and seeking out whatever discounts a company may offer. In the long run, though, maintaining a healthy lifestyle is the best way to guarantee lower insurance rates.

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