SIX SECRETS OF SKINNY PEOPLE

You can’t buy yourself skinny genes, nor, sadly, can you supercharge your metabolism. But previous studies have suggested there are certain habits that naturally slender people tend to adopt. 1. THEY DON’T DIET:

Studies have found that even in people who start at a normal weight, dieting can cause them to ‘overshoot’ their previous fat levels when the kilos pile back on, as they usually do. A 2013 review found that in 15 out of 20 studies, dieting predicted future weight gain, not loss. A decision to eat mostly healthy food in moderation may be a better strategy.

2. THEY DON’T EXERCISE AS MUCH AS YOU THINK: Exercise is vital for health and helps slow weight gain over time, but studies show it is unlikely to make you lose weight. 3. THEY SNACK - HEALTHILY:

Giles Yeo, an obesity researcher at Cambridge University and author of Why Calories Don’t Count, says nuts have a bad rap for being fattening: ‘Studies by US researchers showed that a quarter of the calories in whole, unroasted almonds were not absorbed after participants ate them. Similarly, participants absorbed only 80 per cent of the total calories in walnuts. ‘It’s because the fats and protein are contained inside the nuts’ rigid outer coating which is tough for the body to break down.’ A 2011 study found that eating nuts, even more than vegetables, was associated with slight weight loss over time.

5. THEY EAT BREAKFAST... BUT DODGE SUGARY CEREALS:

In a study, a high rate of slim people eat breakfast instead of skipping. Nearly half of the respondents ate fruit at breakfast while eggs were chosen by one-third. A wise choice, says Yeo: ‘A calorie of protein makes you feel fuller than a calorie of fat, as protein is more complex to metabolise.’ 6. THEY EAT REAL FOOD AND LOVE VEGETABLES:

Nearly two thirds of the respondents eat vegetables with dinner every day and more than a third ate salads for lunch most days. Not only are vegetables naturally low in calories, but the fibre they contain also feed a diverse gut microbiome, which is associated in multiple studies with lower weight and even increased weight loss. Many studies show that a higher fibre diet equals a lower weight. A 2019 US study found that people who ate meals consisting of ultra-processed foods ate 500 calories a day more and gained a kilo in just two weeks.

7. THEY EAT SLOWLY:

A study of Japanese people published in the journal BMJ Open found that people who ate slowly were a staggering 42 per cent less likely to be obese than people who gulped down their food. What’s more, people who deliberately chose to slow down their eating speed lost weight and had slimmer waists. Why? Eating slowly causes your body to produce more ‘feeling full’ hormones.