Brent and WTI see small gains as end of year approaches
Economy | Tue Dec 30, 2014 4:24pm EST
NEW YORK | By Samantha Sunne
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Crude futures closed up slightly Tuesday, getting some relief from a weak dollar but not making significant strides as traders prepared for the end of the year.
The dollar is generally inversely related to the price of oil, and so a small the decline in the dollar index .DXY may have lent some strength to crude oil, according Thomas Saal, an analyst with INTL Hencorp Futures. Saal said prices may have also been boosted as traders balanced their positions before the end of the year.
The global benchmark Brent LCOc1 settled up 2 cents at $57.90. U.S. crude CLc1 settled up 51 cents at $54.12 a barrel.
Both measures hit 5-1/2-year lows yesterday before rebounding slightly.
U.S. crude was supported slightly by news that the Obama administration took two long-awaited steps that could increase the amount of processed light crude that can be shipped under the 40-year-old ban on exports of most domestic crude.
The reaction was muted because the measures were introduced during the holidays, said John Kilduff, partner at New York energy hedge fund Again Capital.
Investors were also waiting for U.S. inventory data. The American Petroleum Institute is scheduled to release data on Tuesday while the U.S. Department of Energy's Energy Information Administration will issue data on Wednesday.
A Reuters poll forecast U.S. crude inventories would show a drop of 900,000 barrels, after a rise to their highest recorded level for December in the week ended on Dec. 19. [EIA/S]
There were expectations on Monday that the destruction of over a million barrels of oil by a fire at Libya's main oil port could push Brent over $60, but by the end of the day prices had fallen past previous lows.
Oil prices this year are on track for the biggest decline since 2008 and the second-biggest annual fall since futures started trading in the 1980s.
(Additional reporting by Keith Wallis in Singapore and Christopher Johnson in London,; editing by Jason Neely, Louise Heavens, Jessica Resnick-Ault, Andrew Hay and Cynthia Osterman)
http://feeds.reuters.com/~r/news/economy/~3/3Mam5HaaznI/story01.htm
Mediterranean diet linked to improved CV function in erectile dysfunction patients
The Mediterranean weight loss program is linked to improved cardiovascular performance inside patients with erectile dysfunction, in accordance with analysis offered at EuroEcho-Imaging 2014 by Dr Athanasios Angelis from Greece. Patients with erectile dysfunction that had poor adherence towards the Mediterranean diet had a lot more vascular and cardiac damage.
EuroEcho-Imaging will always be the annual meeting of the European Association of Cardiovascular Imaging (EACVI), a branch in the European Society involving Cardiology (ESC), and it is held 3-6 December inside Vienna, Austria.
Dr Angelis said: "Erectile dysfunction is actually not truly a characteristic of ageing, it is a poor indicator in the entire body in which some thing can be incorrect using the vasculature. Inside 80% of cases erectile dysfunction will be due to vascular problems and also can be a warning in which patients have reached elevated risk of the heart attack or perhaps stroke."
He added: "The Mediterranean meals are connected together with lower cardiovascular events along with could be an easy method to aid erectile dysfunction patients lower his or her risk. We wished to investigate whether or not patients using erectile dysfunction whom comply with the diet program plan have got less vascular and cardiac damage."
The study included 75 men using erectile dysfunction, aged 56 years about average, which attended the particular Department involving Cardiology from Hippokration Hospital inside Athens, Greece. Adherence towards the Mediterranean diet has been assessed using the Med-Diet Score1 which usually ranks patients as higher (30-55), intermediate (21-29) or even reduced (0-20) based on consumption of cereals, fruit, vegetables, meat, fish, dairy products, wine along with olive oil.
Vascular perform was assessed by simply measuring 2 aspects of atherosclerosis, specifically atheromatosis and also arteriosclerosis. Atheromatosis refers to the growth and also development of atheroma (plaque), the fatty deposit inside the intima (inner lining) in the artery, and had been measured by the intima-media thickness (IMT) with the widespread carotid artery. Arteriosclerosis refers for the stiffening in the arteries along with had been evaluated with carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity (PWV). heart involvement was according to diastolic operate and also left ventricular mass.
The researchers found that a new lower Med-Diet Score correlated together with significantly a whole lot worse vascular and coronary heart function. These kind of patients had greater IMT along with aortic stiffness too as higher left ventricular mass and significantly more profound diastolic dysfunction.
Dr Angelis said: "Patients using erectile dysfunction who had unhealthy diet programs had much more vascular as well as cardiac damage than people who followed your Mediterranean diet. previous research has demonstrated that will patients together with erectile dysfunction possess vascular damage nevertheless we found that the heart is also damaged. This specific may assist to further explain why these patients will become more susceptible in order to cardiovascular events. The Actual formation of atheroma, the stiffening in the arteries, as well as the poor operating involving one's heart could ultimately cause the cardiac event."
He added: "Our findings claim that adopting the actual Mediterranean diet could enhance the cardiovascular danger profile involving patients along with erectile dysfunction and could even reduce their likelihood of creating a coronary heart attack or stroke. This wants to be tested inside a larger study."
The Mediterranean diet is characterised by day-to-day consumption involving fruit, vegetables, unrefined cereals as well as pasta, extra virgin olive oil and also nuts. Dairy products are eaten in modest amounts, within the kind of yogurt as well as cheese. Consumption associated with meat is low, together with red meat when a week as well as poultry once per week considered a proper level. a modest amount regarding wine may be consumed, along with refined sugar needs to be avoided in favour of organic desserts similar to fruit.
Dr Angelis said: "Really straightforward alterations in our diet may help the lot, regarding instance using extra virgin olive oil containing monounsaturated fat. If someone doesn't have the cash to get a couple of associated with the meals they are usually in any position to substitute all involving these with others, with regard to illustration nuts really are usually a good source of monounsaturated fat. Occasionally it's hard to adopt some thing in the wedding you consider that it's portion of a prescription, however the Mediterranean meals are not just a prescription, it will be a lifestyle. It's regarding having an awareness of what foods are generally wholesome or perhaps unhealthy."
He concluded: "Patients who've erectile dysfunction and don't adhere for the Mediterranean diet get vascular as well as cardiac damage as well as are in increased chance of heart attack and stroke. Our findings declare that adopting any proper diet can reduce in which risk. We furthermore advise patients to prevent smoking, exercise and ensure which they possess healthy levels associated with blood strain levels along with lipids."
Story Source:
The over story can be based on supplies given by European Society of Cardiology (ESC). Note: materials could end up being edited regarding content and length.
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/health_medicine/obesity/~3/XQgO6s3nVTw/141203083651.htm
6 fat-burning exercises for summer
How it works
By trading up from steady-state cardio to high-intensity intervals (HIIT), you’ll force your body into an alternative biological sequence, prompting it to burn more fat, retain muscle mass and increase metabolism.
What you’ll need
» Barbell
» Kettlebell
» Medicine bal
TIP: Select your weights based on your level of ability to execute each move with full range of motion and correct technique.
The rules
1. Complete exercises in order for time
2. Thirty seconds rest between each exercise
3. Complete a second round after a three-minute recovery, attempting to match the first round time or better
Exercise 1: Medicine ball slams (pictured)
An explosive move designed to develop speed and power in the back muscles while increasing the heart rate.
a. Stand with your feet shoulder-width apart, knees slightly bent and a medicine http://www.medicinenet.com/weight_loss/article.htm ball held overhead.
b. Throw the ball down to the ground in front of your feet with as much force as possible. Exhale during the movement and contract the abs.
c. If possible, catch the ball as it bounces from the floor. If there's no bounce at all, keep the ab muscles engaged, squat down and pick the ball up from the floor.
d. Lift the medicine ball back to the starting position and repeat.
http://www.womenshealthandfitness.com.au/fitness/workouts/1538-6-fat-burning-exercises-for-summer
Just how to Slim Down in One Single-Week's Time?
In case you have the will, something is achievable. A similar thing goes to shedding weight in one-week's time. One reason why many individuals don't eliminate lbs that are desired is the fact that they don't possess the will to stay for the weight loss plan. An agenda to lose weight in one-week's time may sounds crazy. Yes it can- that only when your concept of reducing weight is starvation.
Shedding weight by depriving yourself not only harmful but it does not work and you are producing weight loss problematic for yourself. There is an easy way to lose weight in a week which is nothing related to misery. All you need to do is 3 points- Follow eating fruits and vegetables, drink loads of water and frequent exercise.
These are 3 easy things that anyone can perform to reduce weight but only few possess the will to do this. Today, the problem is, are you experiencing what it will take to accomplish those 3 items.
If he or she may stay glued to the next tip anyone could slim down in per week:
1) Follow fruit and veggies.
The only way to feel better inside and appear on the exterior is with healthy eating. Bad eating routine will be the number one reason that caused more than half of our society being overweight. Therefore, the top system to fight overweight is merely eating foods known to promote good health. Eating fruits and more Vegetables are always the very best meals to consider should you want to reduce weight; they also have antioxidant value and supply you with great vitamin.
There is a growing body of proof that shows that place- overeating and based ingredients help control food cravings. In one week period, focus on consuming these fat loss enhancement like broccoli, collard greens, spinach, cabbage, Brussels sprouts, Boston lettuce, green peppers, romaine lettuce, blueberries and strawberries. Though you're on vegetarian diet for a week, you can eat fish or chicken without skin a couple of times, if you require for meat.
There are absolute best fruit and veggies that can increase weight reduction, if you like to lose weight quickly. Higher level of beans green vegetables and fruits allow you to lose weight since they're low in calories, saturated in quantity and full of nutrients. Furthermore, when your stomach is filled up with high-volume, low-calorie food, there's less space for other things.
2) Drink plenty of water.
A research by an expert in human diet, foods and exercise, that has been offered at obesity conference in Phoenix, Arizona last year, showed that folks who drank two glasses of water 20-30 minutes before each food will likely shed weight faster than those that didn't.
The important of well-hydrated body for weight loss is extremely important. The fact often hunger may mistaken as hunger causes you eat over you really need. Do not forget that drinking at the least seven 8 cups of water every day is as important to weight maintenance since it would be to weight loss. By drinking loads of water, your kidneys may be triggered, helping reduce water retention and in the procedure, the body will burn more calories.
Basic water, with zero calories, can really help you keep them down and reduce these unwanted pounds. Sometimes we never realize the very best process comes from the easiest solutions.
3) Regular exercise.
If you like to lose some preferred lbs in one single-week period, be sure you exercise on a regular basis. Exercise plays a crucial part in weight loss game. A 30-minute exercise every single day help maintaining your metabolism at its top, let more calories transform into energy but a lot of people couldn't win the challenge, that is consistency.
And also to assist you to undergo it, listed here is a suggestion, select the form of exercise that you just enjoy the most. Whether it's a walk with your kids, a couple of laps within the pool, joining aerobic sessions, dancing or perhaps stays to a 45 minutes' walk around the park daily.
How to raise your fat loss?
- Stop.
-Stop taking artificially sweetened products of all types.
-Stop eating fried foods as it contain saturated fat.
-Stop drinking alcohol.
- Stop eating junk foods.
There are numerous work contain if you would like to reduce weight in a single week period. You wished to cheat in your diet tell yourself of the goal for your changes and would probably feel that you are living a different lifestyle you've to generate.
Try and follow these simple instructions, be much more active as you can, then, you would sure be happy with the weight-you had dropped after one-week of lifestyle modification.
Obese teenage boys could be paid 18 percent less once they enter job market
Men that are currently obese as teenagers could grow as significantly as make as significantly as 18 % less than their peers involving normal weight. Therefore says Petter Lundborg associated with Lund University, Paul Nystedt involving Jonkoping university along with Dan-olof Rooth regarding Linneas School along with Lund University, all in Sweden. The Actual team compared extensive details from Sweden, the particular United Kingdom and the United States, as well as the outcomes are revealed in Springer's journal Demography.
The researchers analyzed large-scale data regarding 145,193 Swedish-born brothers which enlisted in the Swedish National Services pertaining to mandatory military service among 1984 and 1997. This particular included info gathered by military enlistment personnel as well as certified psychologists about the soldiers' cognitive skills (such as memory, attention, logic and reasoning) in inclusion to their non-cognitive skills (such as motivation, self-confidence, sociability and persistence) which usually can affect his or her productivity. Tax records were then accustomed to gauge the particular annual earnings associated with this team of men, who have been among 28 along with 39 years regarding age in 2003. the Swedish outcomes were further compared with data in the British National Child Development study as well as the US National Longitudinal Survey associated with Youth, 1979.
Previous research features shown simply which obese youthful females spend an amount once they go into the labor market. This specific research is actually the extremely first to exhibit how this pattern additionally emerges among men have been currently chubby or even obese as teenagers, but does not hold correct regarding males that gain excessive excess weight merely later in life. Throughout fact, obese teenage boys can grow up to earn 18 % much less in adulthood.
"To put this figure in to perspective, the actual estimated return for an further 12 months associated with schooling within Sweden is about 6 percent. The Actual weight problems penalty thus corresponds in order to almost 3 years of schooling, which can easily be equivalent to a new university or college bachelor's degree," the actual authors explain.
A strikingly similar pattern in addition emerged when the researchers utilized the actual certain data sets from the United Kingdom and additionally the United States. This particular confirms the wage penalty is different to men who are currently obese or even obese early inside their lives.
The researchers ascribe your wage penalty partly to end up being able to obese adolescents' frequently possessing lower ranges of cognitive as well as non-cognitive skills. This can easily be constant using the evidence linking body size in your program of childhood and adolescence together with bullying, lower self-esteem as well as discrimination through peers and teachers.
The researchers advise that policies and programs target obese and also weight problems problems, which usually are often more common among low-income households. This particular could decrease disparities in child along with adolescent development along with socio-economic inequalities. This could additionally cut persistent patterns of reduced earnings across generations.
"Our outcomes claim that the particular rapid increase in childhood along with adolescent weight problems could have got long-lasting effects around the economic growth as well as productivity of nations. We believe the rationale for government intervention for these age groups will be strong simply because youngsters and also adolescents are usually arguably much less able to take long term consequences associated with his or her actions in to account," says Nystedt. "These outcomes reinforce the worth of policy combating early-life obesity to always be able to cut back healthcare expenditures too as poverty and inequalities later throughout life."
Picking Practical Advice In Weight Loss Supplements
Using a supplement to help decrease hunger pangs and increase fullness following a small meal are all the fury. The weight reduction industry has developed many choices to make the most of the various genetic variations which we all care he as underlying metabolism and exercise customs of those who would like to lose weight supplements to lose weight.
Regardless of what plan or supplement you decide to use weight loss happened the same way, for everyone, every time. To put it differently, we literally are what we eat, or rather how much we eat. Weight loss occurs when we eat less calories each day then we burn.
Did you know that obesity is an issue that confronts of the adult population that is American today. Approximately 15% of teenagers are also heavy and obese. The amount of weight loss supplements are growing as American 's' waistline continues to expand.
Although the theory of weight loss is simple-you eat less than you burn-it's the execution that's not easy. The food industry competes with the weight reduction industry in marketing dollars attempting to garner clients from the exact same target market. In an attempt to help you to eat out when the client need and still lose weight many people turn to supplements because changing eating habits can be unbelievably challenging. Using weight loss supplements and pills can sometimes help people over the proverbial hump.
People also need something to work quickly. It should happen now and it needs to be comparatively painless. . .
Fat loss supplementation can be bought either over the counter or from a prescription. Prescription nutritional supplements are only available through your primary care physician and pharmacy that is local best supplement for weight loss. The manufacture and packaging of these are stringently regulated by the Federal Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The products also experience testing and clinical trials to prove security and efficacy.
Over the counter nutritional supplements are not regulated in any manner and aren't classified as drugs. Because they're not classified as a drug there is no regulation on distribution or manufacturing and the businesses do not have the ability to make specific health-related claims. The production firms also usually do not have stringently performed clinical studies which give the exact same advice that a prescribed nutritional supplement may.
Ephedra is one such instance of a weight loss supplement with a high rate of success but also a high side effect profile that includes cardiac difficulties, hypertension and even death. Hoodia Gordonii is another nutritional supplement that has both negative and positive press. There are a few makers that can guarantee the authenticity and quality of the product the companies are delivering although there has been some credible weight loss. There have also been research studies which have documented critical liver side effects in those who have used a nutritional supplement for weight loss.
A lot of the over the counter weight-loss supplements rely greatly on caffeine as their main ingredients. Caffeine has the effect of dehydrating the body as well as improving metabolism somewhat. This gives the customer the first feeling of being then but there is also rebound bloating when the body attempts to retain as much fluid is potential so as to improve its chances for survival.
Caffein has been a weight-loss supplement that has existed for decades in both prescription drugs and over-the-counter supplements. And, while there are some negative side effects to the merchandise, people would be to remember to stay well hydrated and do not overuse the nutritional supplement can find some success.
Most of us think that the main ingredients are the active ingredients when picking a weight-loss supplement. And, while these ingredients are normally the ones which have the most impact on weight loss individuals can also have adverse effects to the an active ingredients in the pills. Keep track of any side effects you experience with supplements you use so you avoid those ingredients with any further changes to your medications and can compare ingredients with the side effects.
Remember that when you take any medicine, supplement or herb you're putting a substance into your body which will react with any other compound which is already there. What this means is that although you are taking a weight-loss supplement meant to enable you to lose weight it's going to respond with any other medication you have been prescribed for other underlying medical conditions or any other over the counter drug you may be taking. For this reason you must consult with the pharmacist to ascertain whether there are any adverse side effects from taking drugs together.
Using these nutritional supplements a long term basis isn't going to solve your issue. Instead they should be used so as to enable you to improve your nutritional intake, alter your lifestyle habits and move away from old habits that were snacking.
Over-the-counter supplements, fat loss herbal nutritional supplements and prescriptions are only a tool in the fight against obesity. Use these tools accurately and with care you'll develop good eating habits you can continue to follow when you are not still using supplementation.
Major Aspects For diet chart for weight loss
Diet chart for weight loss
Creating a diet graph for weight loss is a fantastic way to keep track of your progress on any diet. One of the greatest when one is attempting to slim down motivating forces is being able to see progress with time. The scale reveals that you've lost 2 pounds and if you get on it, you'll be encouraged and probably be more likely to continue following your diet. On the other hand, best green tea for weight loss if you do not monitor your improvement, opportunities are great that you occasionally deviate from your weight loss plan and will cheat. After all, if you don't have a way of seeing how well you're doing, you can become disenchanted with your diet and cease attempting to lose weight.
What exactly is a Diet Graph?
Creating a diet chart for weight reduction is a terrific means to keep track of your progress on any diet. A diet graph is just a graph that permits you to record your weight at certain periods of time so you can see if you slimming down and are actually moving in the correct way. It should contain a location for the date, time of day that you weigh your weight and yourself. That's the fundamental diet graph that works nicely for its intended goal.
What Can Be Part of a Diet Graph?
In addition to recording your weight, a diet chart for weight loss may include other classifications that you may desire to keep track of during the course of your diet. Health associated problems that might be important to follow are such things as your blood pressure and blood sugar. Diabetics must pay careful attention to their blood sugar, when going on a diet. When they analyze their blood sugar, vegan diet weight loss they could record it on the diet chart along with their weight. Seeing how your diet is effecting your blood pressure can also be significant. You may require to change or adjust your diet, when it is out of range on a consistent basis.
An and or minus column is a fast means to see how well you're doing. The minus marks, the more efficient your diet. You and too many plus signs are not sticking to your diet or your diet is basically unworthy.
An Analysis Of Fundamental Details In Christian Bale weight loss
Christian Bale weight loss
Can a quick weight loss also be a healthy weight reduction? If this is the idea on your own mind, you're miles ahead of the majority of individuals interested in weight loss today - christian bale weight loss. Actually , the accurate idea that the majority of fat loss seeker are having is, "How can I've a rapid weight reduction?" There is no reference of a healthy weight loss at all! The problem is that the results are wanted by everyone, but doesn't care about what the have to do to get there. More to the point, the do not care about the long term negative affects that will follow their fast weight loss. - christian bale weight loss
Now that we have identified that your head should be on a rapid weight loss must additionally be a healthy weight loss, let's get you there! We are going to address several matters seeing your life and it live. I'll provide you with the paths you want to take in order for you to get to a healthy weight loss. Then you'll need to go down those routes, one at a time. How well and how dedicated you are to achieving the completion of those paths will discover whether or not you have a fast weight reduction. I'll provide you with the tools to make a healthy weight loss also be a quick weight reduction, but you must use accomplishing, and use them properly, for fast weight reduction to occur and your healthy weight loss.
Measure one, to reach your healthy weight reduction and quick weight reduction, will be to make some changes to your diet. You must need to, and must, begin with your diet. If you are an individual with a non-existent or minimal quantity of exercise then attempting to undertake that measure can be disastrous. If you run into the fitness center, before you correct your dieting deficiencies, you'll feel a great deal of exhaustion during exercise, and possibly faintness, dizziness, and extended muscle soreness and exhaustion afterwards. To start your stepping into a healthy weight loss and quick weight loss, you must first start with giving your body the nutrients that it desires. Otherwise, your quest towards a healthy weight reduction and fast weight reduction will be more challenging, as well as less gratifying!
The dieting change to start your healthy weight reduction and fast weight reduction journey is your daily food intake. You should have three meals a day, each comprising a carbohydrate, a fruit or vegetable, and a protein. These things must also be evenly proportioned for each meal. Ensure that additionally, you get plenty of great cholesterol in order to keep your cholesterol level under control. It follows that you should be including olive oil in your diet and eating a variety of nuts, eggs, and fish. In fact, I would recommend at least one meal a day which contains some kind of fish. Not only is it an excellent source of protein, but the Omega-3 oils that are comprised in greasier fishes like salmon and mackerel are vital for a healthy weight reduction and quick weight reduction, as well as healthy living.
Some fitness tuning ideas for your healthy weight loss and fast weight loss diet. In the morning, I begin with a fruit, a bowl of oatmeal and some bacon or sausage, followed by a multivitamin. For lunch you should also plan your lunch to feature a a carbohydrate, a protein source, and a vegetable. I just have fruit with my meal in the morning, because of the fact that the sugar will help you to begin your day by providing you with the energy that you want. Vegetables consequently must be of higher concentration in your diet and contain more vitamins and minerals than fruit. My dinner always includes a steamed vegetable or salad, and a meat, pasta or potatoes. By following these diet guidelines, your healthy fat loss will become a rapid weight loss as well. Plus, you will have the energy to start the next path towards your healthy weight loss and fast weight-loss journey which is going to be found in Phase II.
Believe it or not, your healthy weight reduction and fast weight reduction plan involves bites! In order to ensure that you are supporting your body's demands for Phase II of your healthy weight reduction and fast weight reduction journey, you must have two between-meal snacks. I continually use protein shakes and protein bars as my between-meal snack. However, I have also been known to use trail-mix which has more crazy than fruits. Your objective is always to make sure your body is getting all the proteins that it needs to support Phase II of your healthy weight reduction and fast weight loss plan. Should you ever feel a craving for something sweet, then have a piece of fruit. Some fruits have more sugars than others, for example raisins, bananas, grapes, pineapples, and mangos, and should be eaten sparingly. These are the desserts which will help to lead to your healthy weight reduction and fast weight reduction, as well as a fitter you.
You comprise all of the elements needed for your body's healthy lifestyle and have started your fitness tuning procedure by ensuring the foods you take into your body are healthful. Start Phase I of fast weight loss journey and your healthy weight reduction today, and you'll soon lead yourself to the results that you want.
Appreciation for fat jokes, belief in obese stereotypes linked
From movies to television, obesity is still considered "fair game" for jokes and ridicule. A new study from researchers at Bowling Green State University took a closer look at weight-related humor to see if anti-fat attitudes played into a person's appreciation or distaste for fat humor in the media.
"Weight-Related Humor in the Media: Appreciation, Distaste and Anti-Fat Attitudes," by psychology Ph.D. candidate Jacob Burmeister and Dr. Robert Carels, professor of psychology, is featured in the June issue of Psychology of Popular Media Culture.
Carels and Burmeister explained they designed the study to determine the nature of adults' favorable and unfavorable reactions to weight-related humor in TV and film, and to determine whether these reactions are related to preexisting negative attitudes toward obese people in general.
"Although disparaging jokes about physical disability, religion and ethnicity are often considered to be in poor taste or not politically correct, obesity stands out as a condition that is commonly made fun of in entertainment media," Burmeister said. "There has been very little research on what viewers think about this kind of humor."
Participants watched seven video clips from popular film and TV shows featuring weight-related jokes. Then they rated each clip on a number of factors, including how funny, mean, offensive, motivating and harmful they found each one. The clips represented the most common stereotypes about overweight individuals: lazy, unattractive and unintelligent. They also rated how sad, upset, angry and happy the videos made them.
Additionally, they answered questions about their attitudes and beliefs about obesity including dislike for overweight people, belief in the controllability of body weight and belief in stereotypes about obese people.
Not surprisingly, the participants' dislike for obese persons and their belief in disparaging stereotypes about obesity were associated with higher levels of appreciation for weight-related humor. Burmeister and Carels wrote that these findings are consistent with previous research that found associations between appreciation of sexist humor with sexist attitudes and beliefs.
Surprisingly, distaste for the clips did not equal a lower level of dislike for obese individuals. The researchers felt this could suggest that finding weight-related humor to be mean or offensive has little to do with how much people like or dislike obese persons generally.
The researchers felt the lack of an association between the dislike of obese people and distaste for the videos could have more to do with how strongly the respondents believe in negative stereotypes of obese individuals.
The more strongly people believed that obesity was a controllable condition, the less aversion they had for the humor.
In the study, Burmeister and Carels wrote that by being able to blame targets of humor for their obesity, viewers are able to feel less upset by potentially offensive jokes.
"Some theories of humor suggest that we laugh at unfortunate events more when they happen to people we don't like," said Burmeister. "People with obesity are often stigmatized and blamed for their weight, which might be related to why viewers feel comfortable laughing at jokes about a character's weight, even if the jokes are a bit mean-spirited."
The study also found that an individual's Body Mass Index was associated with his or her appreciation of weight-related humor. This suggests that humor directed at an obese target's weight might remind viewers of their own weight and the negative feelings that may be associated.
Those who disliked the weight-related humor were less likely to believe in disparaging stereotypes about obesity, consistent with the opposite association between humor appreciation and belief in disparaging stereotypes.
Story Source:
The above story is based on materials provided by Bowling Green State University. Note: Materials may be edited for content and length.
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/mind_brain/diet_and_weight_loss/~3/q6qWXnlGWmo/140730132441.htm
