Word: appestat
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Physiologically, people overeat because what Dr. Jolliffe calls the "appestat" is set too high. The appestat, which adjusts the appetite to keep weight constant, is located, says Jolliffe, in the hypothalamus -near the body's temperature, sleep and water-balance controls. Physical exercise raises the appestat. So does cold weather...
...moderate doses, alcohol narcotizes the appestat and enhances appetite (the original reason for the cocktail); but because liquor has a high caloric value-100 calories per oz.-the heavy drinker is seldom hungry. In rare cases, diseases such as encephalitis or a pituitary tumor may damage the appestat permanently, destroying nearly all sense of satiety...
...after reducing, do so many of them quickly regain the weight they have lost? In both cases, says Dr. Norman Jolliffe in Reduce and Stay Reduced, published last week (Simon & Schuster; $2.95), the answer lies in the individual's appetite-regulating mechanism-or, as he calls it, the "appestat." People get so used to overeating that they cannot feel satisfied with the right amount of food...
...down the intake of calories for a while below the body's actual needs, so that stored fat will be burned. When the ideal weight is reached, intake and consumption of fuel can be equalized. The main thing, he insists, is for the dieter to realize that his appestat has been set too high and has to be set lower...
...Jolliffe locates the appestat in the hypothalamus, site of the body's temperature-control, water balance and sleep-control mechanisms. It may be thrown out of kilter by injury or disease. But where there is no physical explanation for the appestat's demanding too much fuel, Dr. Jolliffe believes that the answer must be found in habit or conditioning. And it takes "time for habits to be overcome. "Eventually, however," he says, "if the reducer is conscientious, exerts his will power, and is, above all, a good sport, the appestat will usually return to a lower level...
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