Don't Think, Stay Skinny! (Ars Technica)

Ars Technica is reporting today on a study that seems to indicate that "heavy mental effort leads to much bigger meals". The study was small scale and tested female students only but the results were statistically significant. The test was pretty carefully controlled and tested food intake after 3 conditions: resting, reading/writing or computer work. The students ate the most after the computer work but still ate significantly more after reading and writing than after just sitting around. The scientists concluded that knowledge-based work is "a new risk factor for a positive energy balance, with the potential to lead to overweight in the long-term."

Obviously they are going to do more studies but until they do, the next time someone fusses at you for not doing your school work, you have the prefect excuse: I'm trying to lose weight.