As Americans continue to struggle with an obesity problem, a new study out in January states that overeating is now a bigger health risk than smoking tobacco. The study focuses on the speed in which one eats, and concludes that people who are overweight eat faster and consume more calories than those who do not.

For most of us, we’ve all experienced a time when we’ve had a big meal in a relaxing environment where there was still some food on the plate.  Typically, we would have finished it, but because we took our time with conversation and enjoyment of the moment, we felt “full” and couldn’t finish.  Thats not such a bad thing, and can actually be great for our health and weight.  Although exercise is extremely important, equally as important is the amount of calories we put in to our body.

Eating slower is tough in the fast paced life for many Americans, but can go a long way in helping to shed or keep off those extra pounds. It all comes down to the simple formula, calories in minus calories out.  Try to take a little more time to enjoy your food at each meal and keep a few of those unwanted calories out of your diet.

A couple of good articles that go along with these follow.

http://www.cnn.com/2009/HEALTH/12/04/fn.beck.griggs/index.html

http://blogs.consumerreports.org/health/2010/01/weight-loss-slower-eating-helps-with-weight-loss-children-and-obesity-mandometer.html