Go to work on egg - conference told

Monday May 14th, 2012

The novelist Fay Weldon may have been right when she coined a famous advertising slogan about eggs, researchers have revealed.

Egg rather than cereal and toast may be the ideal start to the day for people trying to lose weight and fight cravings, according to new findings.

Experts said that other proteins, such as fish, might prove even more effective.

Ms Weldon coined the phrase "Go to Work on an Egg" for the UK Egg Marketing Board in the 1950s and went on to become a celebrated novelist.

The latest research was revealed at the European Congress on Obesity in Lyon, France - but was financed by the American Egg Board.

Dietitian Tracy Parker, of the British Heart Foundation, said the findings could help some people.

She said: “This finding could help people who are trying to lose weight or stop snacking. It shows the quality of protein in your diet, rather than the quantity, can affect how full you feel.

“An egg breakfast could keep you from mid-morning snacking but remember to use healthier cooking methods. Try boiling or poaching eggs rather than frying and avoid adding butter to scrambled eggs.”

She added: "Further comparison of the effect of lean meat, poultry and fish on appetite should be explored."

The Congress also heard warnings from the National Heart Forum that half of England's men could be obese within 30 years.

Robert Houtman, Director of the Obesity Management Association, said: “We need a radical rethink of how to combat obesity.  We can no longer afford to rely on expensive surgery which does not deal with the root causes of the condition.  We need a combined approach, promoting individual responsibility, fostering behavioural changes and providing affordable medical solutions."

British researchers suggested the public might be helped by a new approach to checking weight.

Dr Margaret Ashwell, former science director of the British Nutrition Foundation, suggested a simpler method than body mass index for ensuring health.

This is to keep the waist measurement less than half the height. The measurement is based on the idea that an "apple-shape" is more dangerous than a pear-shape because it concentrates fat around the abdomen.

Tags: Diet & Food | Europe | Fitness | UK News

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