Can our beliefs affect our weight? It would be strange if they couldn't given what else they can affect.
This week's New Scientist tells the story of a man who was diagnosed with terminal cancer and given just a few months to live. The man duly went downhill and died at his allotted time. What makes this story unusual is that when they did the post mortem, it turned out that the original diagnosis was wrong. The man's cancer was tiny and certainly could not have killed him.
So, what did kill him? It appeared that his belief that he would die was enough to finish him off - a modern version of the pointing bone. There are numerous examples of similar effects where beliefs affect health.
Given that beliefs can kill you, it would be strange if they couldn't make you put on or lose a few pounds, and from the work I do with people I know that they can. Unfortunately it may not be possible to live healthily on chocolate and crisps just because you have a firm belief that they constitute a fully balanced diet. However, constantly telling yourself that the food you eat will make you fat could be adding to your waistline.
What do you believe about food and your weight? Could these beliefs be self fulfilling?
About Me
- Roz
- There are plenty of campaigns against high fat junk, but what about low fat junk? Low fat junk foods containing trans fats, high fructose corn syrup and other more unpronouncable ingredients are making us fat and ill. And the food companies are getting away with selling us this rubbish because it is "low fat". I think this is wrong!
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