damian 0 Posted July 21, 2005 Share Posted July 21, 2005 When Gina Gough was rushed into hospital in agony, with severe abdominal pains and jaundice, doctors initially suspected hepatitis and put her in an isolation ward. In fact, the 22-year-old's condition was the result of a three-year diet that consisted almost entirely of potato chips. She was eating up to 15 bags a day and went into hospital weighing 89 kilograms. Her case demonstrates the potential dangers of a junk-food diet and follows last year's controversial film Super Size Me, in which a documentary-maker ate nothing but McDonald's food for a month and monitored the subsequent deterioration in his health. It is likely to renew fears that the younger generation faces unprecedented ill health and early death due to poor diet. Gough, a nursery nurse from Staffordshire, in central England, said: "My mum used to tell me that all the crisps I ate would make me ill, but I shrugged her off because I didn't think anything this bad could happen to me. I could have died." She developed gallstones up to 4cm in diameter, which formed from the excessive amounts of cholesterol in her body. Most gallstone patients are twice Gough's age. When her gall bladder was removed, surgeons were shocked to discover that it had swollen to the size of a tennis ball. They said it could have exploded at any time. Advertisement AdvertisementGough has since started to eat low-fat meals and take regular exercise, and she hopes that her story will be a warning to others. Her appetite for the snacks developed after she was made redundant in 2000, and began spending her days in front of the television. "I'd start off with a packet of crisps for breakfast, and then I'd have a second packet. I wasn't tempted by any other food. I was depressed after losing my job, but I felt good after eating a packet of crisps," she says. She put on 30 kilograms and she says her personality changed: "My concentration slowed and I felt tired all the time ... I started to get mood swings and I became very snappy." Gough believes she was addicted to "highs" generated by the fat and chemical additives in the crisps. In 2003, a study by the Rockefeller University in New York suggested biochemical changes caused by large quantities of fat and sugar were comparable to the addictive reactions caused by heroin and cocaine. Researchers found snack foods could "reconfigure" the body's hormones to crave more fatty food. Now Gough is calling on potato chip makers to put warning labels on their products. "I didn't listen to my parents, but official labels, telling people to eat crisps in moderation and warning about possible adverse effects on health, would certainly have got me thinking." The Telegraph, London Link to post Share on other sites
spook 0 Posted July 22, 2005 Share Posted July 22, 2005 Is anyone else sick of this ridiculous blame culture? "I didn't listen to my parents, but official labels, telling people to eat crisps in moderation and warning about possible adverse effects on health, would certainly have got me thinking." F*ck me, it’s called common sense Link to post Share on other sites
indosnm 0 Posted July 22, 2005 Share Posted July 22, 2005 Yeah if she doesn't listen to her parents do you really thing she'll listen to the label warning... Fat chance. I might sue the makers of Chu Hai and Yakiniku establishments for the apperance of my spare tire.. Because it wouldn't have anything to do with the fact that I have been alittle lazy of late.. Link to post Share on other sites
Ocean11 0 Posted July 22, 2005 Share Posted July 22, 2005 > Gough, a nursery nurse Aren't nurses supposed to know just a little about nutrition...? Link to post Share on other sites
spook 0 Posted July 22, 2005 Share Posted July 22, 2005 Haha, we were sitting in the park yesterday and a friend told me that London’s pigeons are getting fatter as a result of eating junk food scraps. So the rise in obesity in humans is now being mirrored in pigeons! Link to post Share on other sites
frannyo 2 Posted July 22, 2005 Share Posted July 22, 2005 That is just ridiculous. Some people are just totally stupid. Link to post Share on other sites
cheeseman 1 Posted July 23, 2005 Share Posted July 23, 2005 She should eat more cheese. Not only will it be a delicious snack, but also highly nutritious and fun for all. Link to post Share on other sites
cheesewoman 0 Posted July 23, 2005 Share Posted July 23, 2005 But moderation is important cheeseman, remember. It's difficult not to get carried away when it comes to cheese. Link to post Share on other sites
scouser 4 Posted July 23, 2005 Share Posted July 23, 2005 Quote: She put on 30 kilograms That's just nuts. Back to see all the fatties soon, probably all added another 10kg since last summer...... Link to post Share on other sites
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