Potato Chips Biggest Culprit In Weight Gain

A new study says that potato chips are the biggest culprit when it comes to weight gain over time.  On average potato chips can contribute to an average 1.69 pounds in 4 years.

The study was conducted over a 20-year period by Harvard, and recently published in the 'New England Journal Of Medicine'.

Coming in a fairly close second were potatoes in general - especially french fries- along with other starchy foods.  The average gain for spuds was 1.28 pounds over a 4 year period.  Sugary sodas also made the list, accounting for a pound of extra weight.  Alcohol contributed .41 pounds.

Now if you indulge in all of these addictive foods, you can figure that you're headed for obesity over a 4  year span, unless you counter the calories with plenty of exercise, or only indulge infrequently.

The researchers cited potato chips' especially irresistible taste and mouth feel, and noted that we generally don't eat just a few chips.  We eat a whole bag at a sitting.  It's really not rocket science, but it does make you stop and think about how habits affect health not so much on a daily basis, but over a lifetime.  It's what the medical professionals have been telling us for years.

And of course, they also repeat over and over that you've got to move to stay healthy.  Losing weight is about a lifestyle change.  Exercise has to be a part of  the routine just like brushing teeth and bathing.  My question is, why does everything that tastes so good have to be so bad for us?  (via huffingtonpost.com)