Interesting article on the placebo effect and exercise

[Laura Corin]

The Guardian is a well-respected newspaper; here's the link (http://www.badscience.net/2008/08/think-yourself-thin/).

It's worth reading the comments too, for possible flaws in the research.

Laura

[Karenciavo]

Is there a way to read the research article without paying? (I'm coffee deprived)

As I finished reading the first paragraph of the blog my mindset was that Ben Goldacre is a pompous twit so maybe I'm not understanding him. Why is it hard to believe that a positive attitude would affect health/metabolism? I don't know what "significant change for the better" means in the penultimate paragraph.

[SFP]

From the study (a pdf, unfortunately):

This shift in mind-set in the informed group was accompanied by remarkable improvement in physiological measures associated with exercise. After only 4 weeks of knowing that their work is good exercise, the subjects in the informed group lost an average of 2 pounds, lowered their systolic BP by 10 points, and were significantly healthier as measured by body-fat percentage, BMI, and WHR. These were small but meaningful changes given the state of health the subjects were in, especially considering that the change occurred in just 4 weeks. All of these changes were significantly greater than the changes in the control group. These results support our hypothesis that increasing perceived exercise independently of actual exercise results in subsequent physiological improvements.

[Karenciavo]

Thank you SFP.

[6packofun]

From the study (a pdf, unfortunately):

This shift in mind-set in the informed group was accompanied by remarkable improvement in physiological measures associated with exercise. After only 4 weeks of knowing that their work is good exercise, the subjects in the informed group lost an average of 2 pounds, lowered their systolic BP by 10 points, and were significantly healthier as measured by body-fat percentage, BMI, and WHR. These were small but meaningful changes given the state of health the subjects were in, especially considering that the change occurred in just 4 weeks. All of these changes were significantly greater than the changes in the control group. These results support our hypothesis that increasing perceived exercise independently of actual exercise results in subsequent physiological improvements.


Hmmm. I'd have to read the whole thing, but what struck me is that I think I can lose 2 whole pounds in *4 weeks* just by not having a cookie. lol

[chiguirre]

Hmmm. I'd have to read the whole thing, but what struck me is that I think I can lose 2 whole pounds in *4 weeks* just by not having a cookie. lol

That's true, but that cookie is tempting. I can see how thinking you're getting exercise is enough to inspire people to make other small changes that do add up eventually.

[Karenciavo]

That's true, but that cookie is tempting. I can see how thinking you're getting exercise is enough to inspire people to make other small changes that do add up eventually.

Right, but is this what the study is purporting? Is just having the mindset enough? Some emotions have a very powerful effect on our bodies, e.g. new love. So, are they saying there is some kind of metabolic change simply from emotions?