Why you overeat on Mondays

Dear Friends

You’re good as gold all weekwatching what you eat. So when Friday night comes, you take a break (and it’s true that treating yourself keeps weight off for the long term). But on Monday, don’t you find it’s tough to get back on track?

Science is giving an indication why. Normally, the hormone leptin signals to the brain you’ve eaten enough. But a recent animal study from the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas found that digesting palmitic acid (found in high concentrations in saturated fats) over a few days may inhibit leptin past the weekend.

“On Monday, you probably won’t feel full when you eat, since the brain isn’t getting the signals,” says researcher Deborah Clegg. So you may eat more than you normally would—and your weekend cheat backfires.

This research also found that monounsaturated fats and, specifically, oleic acid (a.k.a. omega-9s) don’t stop “full” signals—so they’re the good guys. Karie Quinn, a Grande Prairie, Alta.-based dietitian, agrees: Monounsaturated fat helps you feel full. So don’t cross all fats off your diet. To avoid the Monday Diet Hangover, spread treats out. And simply knowing what saturated fat does to your brain may empower you to eat less of it.

Good vs. bad fats