Can Mental Labor Cause Hunger Pangs?

            There are many reasons for hunger pangs and overconsumption of high calorie foods.  For example, artificial sweeteners cause us to overeat, and physical exercise, especially vigorous exercise like weight-lifting or running, can lead to hunger pangs.  The latter scenario is normal due to the fact that exercise increases metabolism and, a higher amount of calories is needed to repair and build muscle.  Most people don’t associate mental work, such as working with computers, with hunger pangs or an increase in calorie consumption.  Of course, those of us who use the Windows operating system know just how much mental work is required to do something as simple as closing a program.  In the commercials, a seven-year-old can work a PC, but what happens when `This program is not responding`? 

            Anyway, some of us may begin to now realize that we find ourselves rummaging through the fridge or searching the cupboard for a bag of chips or checking to see if the kids left any cookies in the jar before they left for school.  Office jobs have obesity written all over them.  Just because you aren’t home, doesn’t mean you’re safe from those office parties and the woman in the cubicle next to you who brings her homemade cupcakes every morning to share with her coworkers.

            A study done at Laval University in Quebec, Canada revealed that intellectual labor increases calorie consumption soon afterwards.  The study involved fourteen students of normal weight, three tasks, and a buffet lunch.  The study took place over the course of three days and the students were each required to complete a different task before the buffet lunch.  The tasks were: a relaxing afternoon of just sitting around, reading and summarizing a document, and a series of computer tests involving memory and focus.  The researchers discovered that, compared to the group that spent time relaxing, the group that read and summarized a document ate an average of 203 more calories, and the group working on the computers ate an average of 253 more calories.

            The researchers took blood samples before, during, and after each task in order to help explain their findings.  Although it was discovered that the mental tasks do not lead to an increase in caloric expenditures, the mental work does cause an instability in blood glucose and insulin.  Consuming a greater amount of calories is one way for the body to correct this.  Eating food replenishes blood glucose which the brain uses as fuel.

            This may be a problem for those who work at computers all day or play video games for hours.  The caloric consumption increased, but activity does not.  A solution would be to snack on nuts like walnuts or seeds like sunflower seeds and, it is always a good idea to increase activity.  Do five to ten squats every hour or two.  You don’t need a gym to be active.

Yours in Natural Health,

Viny A. DErrico

Natural Health Expert  
NSP ID# 2183432-7           


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