DIETS NO SUBSTITUTE FOR LOVE

Forget dieting – there’s nothing like love to help you shed those extra pounds,

according to a survey published this week by an Italian health magazine.

Eight out of 10 Italians find that a new love interest is the best way for both men and women to get into shape, “Dimagrire” (“Lose Weight”) said in its February issue. They talked to 74 Italian weight loss experts for the article. Chocolate, other sweets and carbohydrates stimulate neurotransmitters and cause a general feeling of well- being, but also pile on the calories, one nutritionist said. “So, if being in love brings the same happiness, the organism doesn’t need these foods to achieve wellbeing,” Amleto D’Amicis was quoted as saying. But the slimming effects of love don’t last forever. For a third of Italians, the pounds stay off only until marriage and for 23 per cent, a first child can bring those love handles back on for both mama and papa. About 12 per cent kept the weight off.