farmdoc's blog post number 572

Garry Egger (pictured) is Adjunct Professor of Health and Applied Sciences at the Southern Cross University, and Director of the NSW Centre for Health Promotion and Research. He’s qualified to write on the topic of Weight management – because he founded GutBusters, and his 25 books include Trim for Life: 201 Tips for Effective Weight Control, Lifestyle Medicine and The Fat Loss Handbook: A Guide for Professionals. And he’s the lead author of this article in the November 2009 issue of Australian Family Physician – where I found the 12-question quiz. Here are Egger’s answers, which he says are ‘based on the best available evidence’:

(1) T; (2) F; (3) T; (4) F; (5) T; (6) F; (7) F; (8) F; (9) T; (10) F; (11) F; (12) T.

So there you have it. How did you fare? In Egger’s paper he gives a brief commentary about the correct answer for each question, he tells us that doctors scored 60% correct, and truck drivers and tradesmen scored 51% correct; and he gives us a question-by-question response for both groups (with a few extra – and easier – questions thrown in for good measure). In case you’re disappointed with your score, he reassures us by saying that ‘many of these statements remain controversial’.

I hope you enjoyed Farmdoc’s Blog’s first quiz. I predict it’s not the last.

farmdoc's blog post number 571

How did you go with yesterday’s six quiz questions? Well, I hope. I’m counting on you to score highly. But sorry, I’m not open to bribes. That didn’t stop Sweetheart Vivienne trying, however. She took darling Meg’s advice and offered me her Launch Cookies. I ate two. And they were scrumptious, believe me (as you’ll find out at The Launch tonight). But no go, my dear Beloved. Cookies? Yes. Answers? Nope. So on to today’s second part of the Weight Management – Facts and fallacies quiz. Here are six statements concerning exercise and weight loss. You need to mark each as true or false. Ready, set, go!

(7) Exercise is better than dieting for weight loss.

(8) Swimming is better than walking for weight loss.

(9) Weight lifting is good for fat loss.

(10) The best measure of body fat is body mass index.

(11) You lose more weight doing exercise you are good at.

(12) An obese person can be fit and healthy.

Good luck to you. Though if you have the knowledge and skill, you won’t need luck. Tomorrow I’ll give you the twelve correct answers – six from yesterday and six from today.

farmdoc's blog post number 570

Dear readers of Farmdoc’s Blog. I can hardly believe that I’ve written 569 posts without offering you a quiz. But I have. And it ends at 569. Because today’s post – number 570 – is a quiz. And for good measure, tomorrow’s is too. The topic is Weight Management – Facts and fallacies. Today I’ll give you six statements about nutrition and weight loss. You need to mark each as true or false. Tomorrow’s six statements concern exercise and weight loss. On Friday, instead of the customary Friday list, I’ll give you the 12 correct answers. And I’ll show you where you can compare your answers with those of a group of doctors, and a group of truck drivers and tradesmen. Okay, then. Let’s begin:

(1) Fruit juice is about as fattening as beer.

(2) Humans need eight glasses of water per day.

(3) Dairy products can help weight loss.

(4) A low protein diet is best for weight loss.

(5) Fat people don’t get more hungry than lean people.

(6) Chocolate is healthy provided it is ‘dark’.

They’re not easy. But I didn’t promise you easy, did I? Until tomorrow, then.