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DietDirectives has been featured on many media outlets including:
The New York Post, The London Sunday Times, All You, Newsweek radio, The New York Post, The Golf Channel, AM-New York, The Indianapolis Star, Medical News Today, The Milwaukee Journal, Crain's Business, KSL radio, The Miami Herald, Cindy Adams's Page Six, Channel 6 CBS News at Five, The Dallas Morning News, NC World News, The Daily Herald, The Scotsmand (Scotland), Orlando Sentinel, Aberdeen Press and Journal, New Idea (Australia), The Chicago Tribune, The Evening Mail, World Entertainment News Network, Suni Systems News, SavannahNOW, La Opinion (Spain), The Vancouver Sun, The Newscastle Herald, The Gold Coast Bulletin, The Sunday Mirror, Edmonton Journal (Canada), The Toronto Star, The Ottawa Citizen, The Plain Dealer, WebMD, Hindstan Times (India), New Kerala (India)
The following articles either feature the DietDirectives method or highlight important issues supporting our particular approach. We believe that the obesity epidemic is in part due to diet myths and misinformation. We hope to dispell some of these myths by keeping our clients up-to -date concerning the lastest developments in the health, fitness and dieting.
The New York Times, January 12, 2005
"U.S. diet guide puts emphasis on weight loss" by Marian Burros
On January 11, 2005 the US federal government issued new dietary guidelines which reduce the recommended caloric intake each day by 200 calories. So, for men it is 2,000; for women, 1,800.
Simply put, move more, eat less. Sounds familiar, doesn't it?
MSNBC News, January 11, 2005
"Working out doesn't guarantee weight loss" by Jacqueline Stenson
Dieters expect quick weight loss as a result of strenuous working out. However, dieters need consistent and moderate exercise because "go for the burn" exercise will cause many dieters to overeat or actually burnout. Also as the article concludes, "you simply cannot eat whatever you want and expect to lose weight just because you exercise."
The Daily Herald, January 4, 2005
"New Year, New Diet" by Susan Stevens
DietDirectives is the alternative to the dieting trends that embrace low-carb or low fat foods.The new ideal of quality over quantity is fully realized in the DietDirectives approach.
Orlando Sentinel, January 4, 2005
"A diet rich in restraint" by Nancy Imperiale
A profile of Meredith Luce's dieting philosophy and what distinguishes her from other Nutrionists. Though Luce is the granddaughter of Henry Luce, "the legendary magazine magnate who
founded Time Inc.," she teaches a down-to-earth and thrifty approach to food management. Her "refrigerator classes" advise how to organize and stock a wide variety of foods. Clients
benefit because they learn to pay attention to the the how not just the what of eating. Luce loves food-its purchase, preparation, storage, andconsumption--all in moderation.
Aberdeen Press and Journal, December 29, 2004
"Reader, cleanse thyself"
Advising readers to "detox" after the holidays falls into the category of nutritional myth. Imagine how liberating the holiday eating would be if moderation ruled our habits.
LAtimes.com, December 27, 2004
"Want to eat less? Shrink your mouth" by Linda Marsa
A study in the December issue of Obesity Research affirmed that it takes 20 minutes for the body to register the feeling of fullness. So, while it may be very difficult to change quick eating behaviors, we
believe that bite-counting helps slow down eating time. Thus, you retrain the body to feel full with less food.
The New York Times, December 19, 2004
"Exchanging Cigarettes for Bagels" by Gina Kolata
From 1980-2000 as smoking waned in popularity, weight gain increased. In this cultural shift we can see the roots of the contemporary obesity epidemic. During this time, food companies, seeing
the non-smoking trend, catered to the obvious hand-to-mouth need of smokers with increased variety of snack foods and portion sizes. Simultaneously the health food craze was born. For example, when particular foods were labeled as "anti-oxidant" people believed that eating endless quantities would have health benefits.The result of these two trends: whether snacking on chips or grapes constant consumption has led to obesity. As a society we have moved from one addiction to another.
The London Sunday Times—Style Section August 29, 2004:
Want to eat roast potatoes and lose weight? A new diet that reduces the size of your stomach muscle lets you do just that, says Sally Brown
If you are looking for a common-sense approach to weight loss without feeling deprived, there is an increasingly popular American diet system that claims to shrink your stomach naturally.
The technique, known as DietDirectives, is the brainchild of Meredith Luce, an American dietician who works with gastric bypass patients at Florida Hospital. According to Luce, a normal stomach is the size of a 6in sausage, and is designed to hold just under a litre of fluids and solids. "The stomach is a muscle," she says, "so it responds to repeated demands, such as too much food or fluid, by increasing in size. Surgery has been known to reduce stomachs that were four times the normal size— that's a capacity of up to 3.7 litres." Luce believes it is possible to shrink your stomach to normal size naturally in about three weeks, and once you have managed that, you will feel full after you have eaten a small amount of food.
You can tell if your stomach has stretched by consuming a large quantity of food, or several pints of beer, in one sitting without feeling uncomfortable. "People with stretched stomachs have constantly overridden that naturally full feeling, so they are no longer sensitive to the threshold and there is nothing to stop them from overeating," Luce says. "The stomach can stretch to an enormous size," agrees Stephen Pollard, a consultant surgeon at Bupa St James's Hospital in Leeds, who carries out around seven gastric bypasses a week. "It's a muscular organ, and if you fill it with large quantities of food, it will simply grow to accommodate it and never burst. Of course, this feels extremely uncomfortable, and you have to become immune to the discomfort to allow yourself to overeat to this extent. It will, however, return to normal size when empty."
The New York Times, June 27, 2004
“Next Up: Low Carb Nachos?” by Eric Dash
Several years ago Coca-Cola and Pepsi-Co created products with half the sugar of regular soda. Likewise, several years ago DietDirectives called for low calorie drinks as an alternative to regular high-sugared sodas. The DietDirectives philosophy has consistently maintained that such low-calorie fluids help to raise the blood-sugar during mealtime to shut down hunger sooner. While these Coca-Cola and Pepsi-Co products are appropriate to have in moderation on the DietDirectives plan, “C2” and “PepsiEdge” are being marketed to the low-carb crazed. Unfortunately, as the article cites, such low-carb products only feed into “America's cyclical dieting obsession.” DietDirectives rejects such diet trends as the source of yo-yo dieting and eventual weight gain, instead of healthy balanced eating.
Time.com, June 5, 2004
“Lessons from the Summit” by Claudia Wallis
The Time/ABC New Summit on Obesity compiled health, dieting, and nutrition information from government officials, community activists, journalists, and businessmen in the two-day conference. As to date, such professionals have been unable to provide comprehensive solutions or support for the overweight and obese. From 1991 to 2002 many states climbed from low-obesity status to high with obesity rates currently over 20% in some states. For the first time, this professional community acknowledged publicly the enormity and seriousness of the Americans' growing bulge. These professionals agree that the nation must shift from quantity to quality-driven eating habits. For example, cheap, but low-quality food offered in American grocery stores lower consumer satisfaction causing the desire to eat more for appropriate stimulation. Simply, the American consumer needs to eat better. The focus away from quantity-driven diets like Atkins is a major shift for the professional community
New York Times, June 29. 2004
"Beginning Pregnancy Already Overweight" by Jane E. Brody
Although most American women have weight loss goals, when pregnant, many women flip from dieting to overeating—which can be potentially harmful. While for a woman of normal weight gaining 25-35 pounds is expected and healthy, there is an increase of women gaining 60 pounds or more during pregnancy. Such extreme weight gain is typically thought to promote healthy babies, but this is not so, especially for the many women who begin pregnancy overweight. Obstetricians are increasingly urging overweight women to lose weight BEFORE becoming pregnant to reduce serious health risks. While the following risks are associated with pregnancy in general, excessive weight during pregnancy can increase the risks of: hypertension, diabetes, etc
WebMD Medical News, Tuesday, December 30, 2003
"A Stomach Pacemaker Fights Obesity, Implantable Gastric Pacemaker Aids in Weight Loss"
By Jennifer Warner, Reviewed By Brunilda Nazario, MD
A new pacemaker has been developed, not for your heart, but your stomach. The "gastropace," as titled by the doctors of the National Center for Obesity, helps to control hunger by sending electrical signals to muscles in the stomach wall. Thus, the matchbox-sized device, informs the body that it is full, allowing for food moderation. However, this device is only recommended for morbidly obese patients and those whom have not succeeded with medical weight loss treatment before.
Allure, November 2002
"Chewing and Memory"
Chewing not only breaks down food but the act improves working memory!
The New York Times, January 15, 2003
"Pass the Nuts, Pass Up the Guilt," by Marian Burros
The Nut Benefit. Nuts are good for you!
The New York Times, May 2, 2003
"New Advice To Runners: Don't Drink The Water" by Gina Kolata
Drinking an excess amount of water can actually be harmful. Dr. Martin and Dr. Noakes suggest only drinking when thirsty, even during exercise. They state that the beneficial myths of water, "have no foundation in rigorous studies. In my opinion, the vast majority of healthy people do not need that much water. Some people actually get water intoxication syndrome.They feel lethargic from drinking too much. I worry about the sanity of those people, " they said.
The Chicago Tribune, January 7, 2004
"Portion Distortion ; Americans Often Penny-Wise but Pound-Foolish When it Comes to Food"
Muffins that weigh half a pound. Cookies the size of salad plates. Quart-size cups of cola. "Medium" bags of movie popcorn that contain 16 cups. Portion sizes aren't just big, they've become gargantuan. As a result, Americans are bigger too.
The New York Times, February 17, 2004
"Must I Have Another Glass of Water?Maybe Not, a New Report Says" by Jane Brody
The NY Times Nutrition Editor admits that she was wrong about drinking 8 glasses daily. That coffee, juice, soda, fruit, vegetables and other foods as well have sufficient water to satisfy our needs. Meanwhile, the bottled water industry which didn't exist 25 years ago sells billions of Dollars of designer waters. Another nutritional science mistake that Americans have paid for with their bodies and pocketbooks.
The New York Times February 17, /2004
"Beyond Delicious, Chocolate May Help Pump Up Your Heart" by Elizabeth Olson
Raw cocoa contains flavonoids, plant-based components with protective anti-oxidants like those in green tea which may help decrease blood pressure
and improve circulation. The health benefits of cocoa date back to the Mayas who called it the "food of the gods".
The New York Times, November 23, 2003
"Food for Holiday Thought: Eat Less, Live to 140?" by David Hochman
"Beyond Atkins, beyond South Beach, a very low-calorie plan promises not only to slim waists, but to slow aging." Laboratory research on animals shows that life span is extended by 40%-50% when calories are restricted.
American Way Magazine, June 1, 2003
"Shaky Pyramid?" by Ben Hewitt
In the wake of staggering numbers of overweight Americans, experts point to flaws in the Food Guide Pyramid. The USDA is looking to adjust the pyramid so that it conveys a better understanding of correct dietary information.
The New York Times, November 10, 2003
"Welfare Reform for Farmers"
The Senate is currently debating existing farming subsidies. Current legislation encourages overproduction by large farms, making it difficult for small farms and developing nations to compete becuse U.S. farmers "can export their product at prices below the cost of growing it." And cheap food makes supersizing an easy answer.
The New York Times, November 11, 2003
"What Should We Eat?" By Denise Grady
What should we eat? LESS. Why? We cannot afford the cost of obesity. Coffins made "triple-wide" to accomodate the obese, 100,000 people will undergo surgery to shrink their stomachs, obesity kills 300,000 a year in the U.S.
The New York Times, January 3, 2004
"Make That Steak a Bit Smaller, Atkins Advises Today's Dieters" By Marian Burros
After years of criticism from scientists, the Atkins diet is now advising dieters to limit red meat and saturated fat.
Allure Magazine,
"Shrinking Stomach"
The number of people ho will undergo stomach surgery is on the rise. But Gastric Bypass, the Lap-Band, Duodenal Switch,and Weight-Loss Drugs are risky.
The New York Times, December 23, 2003
"Stampede of Diabetes as U.S. Races to Obesity" by Jane E. Brody
Type 2 diabetes is on the rise because so many Americans eat too much and move too little.
"Study says U.S. Teens are Fattest" by Lindsey Tanner
A study of 15 countries found that American teens (13-15 year olds) have the highest rate of obesity.
The New York Times, August 26, 2003
"Rising Obesity in Children Prompts Call to Action?" by Nancy Wartik
Doctors say that in the past 20 years obesity has become the most prevalent chronic health problem among American children.
The New York Times
“Obesity Can Add to Danger In Men With Prostate Cancer" By Denise Grady
"In men who have prostate cancer, obesity is linked to an increased risk that the cancer will be aggressive and likely to recur after surgery."
The New York Times, January 28, 2003
"F.A.A. Reviews Rules on Passenger Weight After Crash" by Matthew L. Wald
The Federal Aviation Administration is asking small planes to collect passengers' weight due to crashes that may have been caused by overloading, or too many obese passengers.
The New York Times, February 16, 2003
"Latest Airport Question: You Weigh How Much?" by Matthew L. Wald
The obesity epidmeic may require pasengers to "weigh in" when travelling by plane.
The Wall Street Journal, January 27, 2004
"Downsize This!" by Betsy McKay
Food makers are starting to realize that they can shrink portions and increase profits. Supersizing may not help sales.
Newsweek, January 19, 2004
"Health for Life" by Jerry Adler and Anne Underwood
Calorie restriction is becoming the rage as tests in animals reveal that eating less lengthens life.
IDEA Health & Fitness Source, February 28, 2004
"Eat Less to Live Longer" by Jenna A. Bell-Wilson, MS, RD, LD
Cutting unnecessary calories from your life can increase your life expectancy. Cutting calories drastically often proves difficult, but experts say that even a moderate cut back can provide some benefits to anti-aging.
The New York Times, January 7, 2003
"Land of the Free, Home of the Fat" by Michiko Kakutani
What is to blame for America's thickening waistlines: corn surpluses led to the production of an inexpensive sweetener, corn fructose, which is now used in all processed foods.
October 12 ,2003
"The (Agri) Cultural Contradictions of Obesity" by Michael Pollan
Overproduction of corn and farming subsidies from the Seventies has led to cheap prices and supersizing.
Time, September 4, 2000
"The Diabetes Explosion" by Jeffrey Kluger
Type 2 diabetes, commonly associated with obesity, is rising, and striking people younger than the 45 and older age group.
The New York Times, July 13, 2003
"Tax Policy That Uses Economies Of Scales" by Daniel Altman
Economists, to combat against obesity, suggest collecting a lump-sum tax from every American and putting it in a pool. Those that register within normal weight receive a reward.
NYPress, October 9-15, 2002
"Adipose Nation, It's Time to Tax the Fat" by Zach Parsi
With the rise in obesity this writer proposes the Glutton Tax. "This Glutton Tax would be simple to implement and enforce. As part of the policy-writing process, health insurers would be required to certify the BMI (Body Mass Index) of their subscribers." In other words, the higher your BMI, the higher your insurance cost.
The New York Times, May 27, 2003
"Pounds Lost on Atkins Diet May Quickly Return" by Jane E. Brody
While Atkins can result in immediate weight loss, studies here found that Atkins dieters gained the weight back plus more after six months.
The New York Times, July 22, 2003
"The Gorge-Yourself Environment" by Erica Goode
"From giant sodas to supersize burgers to all-you-can-eat buffets, America's approach to food can be summed up by one word: Big. Bigger, cheaper meals, heavily advertised and widely available, induce people to eat more than they need to."
Allure, April 2003
Portion Distortion
"The eyes are bigger than the stomach." Research on people's eating habits showed that when people are served more they eat more.
The New York Times, January 20 2004
"The Widening of America, or How Size 4 Became a Size 0" by Jane E. Brody
As Americans gets larger, clothing sizes shrink to make people feel better about being larger. Today's Size 4 was a Size 8 three decades ago.
The New York Times, February 16, 2003
"The Smoke Mirrors of Food Labeling" by Sherri Day
Food companies are exploiting labeling laws that allow them to make their products seem less fattening than they really are.
The following references provide documentation & scientific support to the Diet Directives Weight Loss Program concepts:
Scientific Supportive Data for Diet Directives Principles
In a study published in the Journal of American Dietetic Association (1975, Vol. 67; 344-346), comparing obese to nonobese (31 adult males & females), it was found that the obese spend less time consuming their meal and they chew each mouthful of food in shorter time than the nonobese. The authors observed that these “fast eaters” did not sense oral satiety.
Researchers looking at the satiety-hunger feedback mechanism discovered that while stretch receptors in the gastrointestinal tract bring about short term inhibition of eating, it is the elevation of blood glucose that plays a long-term role in directly stimulating satiety. (American Journal of Surgery, 1987, Vol.153; 265-269)
Data collected from National Food Consumption Surveys in 1977, 1989 and 1998 with a total of 63380 participants confirmed that portion sizes have indeed increased over the years as has the incidence of obesity in the US. The authors state that “simply educating the public about which foods to eat or not to eat is not enough, as an equally important issue is the quantity of food being consumed.” The authors noted that even portions consumed at home have increased—a shift that indicates marked changes in eating behavior in general. They contend that the best way to encourage eating smaller portions is if food portions served inside and outside the home are smaller. ( JAMA 22/29, 2003-Vol.289, No. 4; 450-453.)
Gastric-emptying rate of fluids from the stomach into the intestine is influenced by a variety of factors including, but not limited to, fluid temperature, osmolality, sodium content, pH, calorie content and electrolyte content. In a study using eight healthy, college-aged males, researchers evaluated the difference absorption rates of different carbohydrate solutions finding that an 8% carbohydrate (glucose-fructose) solution provided a more rapid delivery of glucose to the blood than other carbohydrate solutions. (American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 1990;51:1054-7.)
For people exercising, replacing water and restoring depleted glucose stores is facilitated by drinking a beverage that contains a source of carbohydrate. In a study of eight healthy males, researchers compared different solutions to determine which concentration facilitated both absorption of water and absorption of glucose ( Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise, 1995; 27: 1607-1615.) The goal is to maximize absorption of water to prevent dehydration but also to maximize carbohydrate absorption to raise circulating blood sugar to meet the needs of the exercising body. The optimal solution to meet both needs is a 6% solution. However, in order to raise the blood sugar up more quickly and turn off hunger, an 8% solution gets the carbohydrate in faster.
Observing eating behavior of 100 customers in a fast food eatery resulted in the conclusion that obese subjects took more bites , performed fewer chews per bite and spent less time chewing than did nonobese subjects (Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 1975, Vol. 43, No.2, 123-125)
“Accelerated ingestive rate”—the scientific way of saying fast eating has been noted in a study comparing lean to obese men and women in which obese persons both male and female exhibited no significant change in ingestive patterns at the end of the meal unlike the lean subjects who slowed down their ingestion rate toward the end of the meal. (Physiology & Behavior, 1981; Vol.27: 649-658).
Saliva has multiple essential functions that contribute to taste perception, enzymatic digestion and esophageal clearance according to a report in Oral Diseases (2002) 8, 117-129 but in order to reap the benefits of saliva, chewing must take place. Chewing or “mastication” of food stuffs brings on the saliva and once incorporated into the foodstuff assists by enzymatically breaking down the food into smaller particles. Additionally, the water in the saliva helps to lubricate the food making it easier to swallow. “Swallowing of food most likely occurs when two thresholds are satisfied, a food particle size threshold obtained by chewing, and a lubrication threshold by the flow of saliva into the oral cavity.”
In one of several studies reported by Spiegel (Neuroscience and Behavioral Reviews 24 (2000) 229-237), it was determined that depriving individuals of food and then providing highly palatable foods was not a recommended combination because more food was consumed. “The combination of food-deprivation (no breakfast or lunch) followed by eating a dinner of highly palatable foods stimulated the most intake in both obese and lean subjects.”
Distending the stomach stimulates gastric receptors, which triggers vagal (nerve) discharges that activate hypothalamic neurons [in the brain] and induce the feeling of satiety. These stretch receptors may not be fully stimulated until the stomach has been distended to a certain proportion of its limit. With a larger gastric capacity as observed in a study of bulimic women (American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 1992;56:656-61), increased intake may be required to stimulate these stretch receptors and signal fullness. Researchers found that it took a significantly larger quantity of food to produce satiety in the bulimic women with the larger capacity stomach as compared to those produced by the smaller meal intakes in normal subjects.
Twelve healthy volunteers chewed mouthfuls of either bread or spaghetti to help researchers determine that the physical and chemical degradations of solid foods during oral digestion may influence the entire digestive process ( British Journal of Nutrition (1998); 80: 429-436). By adequately chewing food, blood glucose response was more immediate than when food was not sufficiently chewed.
“ Hara hachi bu” which means “stop eating when you are 80% full” is what Okinawans say in Japanese. In a study of centenarians in Okinawa ( SCAN, vol.22, no.1, Winter 2003;14-18) researchers determined that the Okinawan diet which is low calorie and low quantity generates few free radicals, thus minimizing potential damage to cellular machinery thereby resulting in slower aging at the cellular level . Researchers observe that “serving sizes are about half of those in the US, making Okinawans less likely to overeat.
Does an extremely obese person have a larger stomach than a normal weight individual? In a study evaluating stomach distention, 16 extremely obese persons were investigated before planned gastric surgery for weight reduction. Researchers Granstrom and Backman ( Acta Chir Scan 1985, 151:367-370) determined that the subjects seemed to tolerate greater distension of the stomach as compared to persons with normal body weight. Adaptation to the eating pattern [larger quantity and more frequent eating] may result in a larger stomach capacity . Additionally, Backman in another study determined that the small intestine was also found to be significantly longer in extremely obese persons than in persons with normal body weight. The greater length allows for a greater chance to absorb more energy-yielding nutrients (calories).
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