Alternative Health Blog

Some research just makes sense. A new study by scientists at Laval University in Quebec City shows that intellectual work induces a significant increase in the calories you eat at your next meal or snack.

This finding—details momentarily—goes hand in hand with a personal theory of mine: Writing and other brain work just takes the glucose right out of you. I feel just as depleted after a morning of writing as I would following a long run.

But I don’t have scientific studies to back up my theory. Jean-Philippe Chaput and his colleagues at Laval U have the goods on how brain work leads to eating more food. The study was published the journal Psychosomatic Medicine early last month.

The researchers evaluated 14 students after they performed each of three different tasks: Relaxing in a seated position; reading and summarizing a text; and completing a series of memory and attention tests by computer. After 45 minutes of any one activity, the student volunteers were invited to enjoy an all-you-can-eat buffet.

Here’s what happened. On average, the students ate 203 more calories after summarizing the text when compared to the sitting position of rest and relaxation. Similarly, when students completed the computerized memory and attention tests, their calorie count at the buffet line went up 253 calories. The percentage increases were 24 percent for the text work and 29 percent for the memory/attention tests, if the relaxation position is the baseline.

The calorie count is one aspect. By taking blood samples, the Laval research team discovered that intellectual work leads to large fluctuations in insulin and glucose (see!) levels. In the paper, Chaput hypothesized that there can be stress in intellectual work that leads to physiological dips and peaks. Another possibility is body craves more calories to restore glucose balance (my vote) since glucose is the only fuel used by the brain.

For his part, Chaput suggested that the intellectual work/calorie link might be a a contributor to North America’s weight problem.

"Caloric overcompensation following intellectual work, combined with the fact that we are less physically active when doing intellectual tasks, could contribute to the obesity epidemic currently observed in industrialized countries," says Chaput. "This is a factor that should not be ignored, considering that more and more people hold jobs of an intellectual nature."

OK, excuse me. I have to go slice an apple for dipping into almond butter. I just can’t seem to write anything else without some food.

Bob Condor blogs for Alternative Health Journal every Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday.