Chocolate – a food that favours weight loss

Bucharest, 11th June 2012: Eating chocolate is not only a pleasant habit, but also a healthy one, as shown by a study communicated in Romania by MediHelp International and its strategic partner, BUPA. According to the research published last month in the journal Archives of Internal Medicine, eating chocolate is an important factor in weight loss and maintaining a low BMI.

In the report entitled “Can eating chocolate really help you lose weight?” BUPA researchers show that people who eat chocolate regularly, at least twice a week, are more likely to have a lower body mass index (BMI) than those who only treat themselves occasionally.

Shweta Bhasin, Dietician at the BUPA Cromwell Hospital, said:“The findings from this study are in stark contrast to what you'd expect. We all know that chocolate is high in calories, which can cause people to put on weight. However, the researchers found a link between having a lower BMI and eating chocolate on a regular basis, but not to the overall amount of chocolate a person ate. The researchers claim that these findings add to the growing body of evidence that suggests it's what you eat that counts not how much. They believe that chocolate contains chemicals that have a positive effect on our metabolism.“

The researchers enlisted more than 1000 men and women between the ages of 20 and 85, none of whom had any history of cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, or high cholesterol. They were asked how many times a week they consumed chocolate and their BMI was measured. All the raw data suggested that the chocolate eaters should have the heftier BMI. They showed higher calorie intake, ate more saturated fats, and they didn't exercise any more than their non-chocolate counterparts. And yet, no matter how the researchers sliced or adjusted the data to account for potentially confounding variables like age, gender, physical activity, or anything else, chocolate consumption was always linked to a lower BMI. The people who ate chocolate were thinner than those who didn't.

Zahal Levy – President of MediHelp International said: “The results of the study may bring joy to the chocolate lovers, but they need to be considered with precaution. All aliments are healthy if consumed moderately and combined with a healthy lifestyle and physical exercise. We always teach our clients the lessons of precaution and prevention and offer them private health insurance plans that fit their requirements and needs,”

Chocolate is known for its antioxidant properties which can prevent certain molecular chain reactions in the cells of the body and reduce cell decay and death. Chocolate is also linked to modest reductions in blood pressure, insulin sensitivity, cholesterol, and other key metabolic functions.

For a full copy of the report, please access: http://www.bupa.co.uk/

MediHelp International is the leading private health insurance provider in Central and Eastern Europe and has been present on the Romanian market since 1999. MediHelp International is the distribution manager of BUPA International in Hungary, Romania and Bulgaria. In partnership with BUPA International, MediHelp successfully combines Medical Assistance with International Health Insurance for the benefit of their clients.

MediHelp International is acting as an insurance broker of Bupa International products in Romania, Hungary and Bulgaria. MediHelp International is registered with the Insurance Supervisory Commission under code 17808893 in Romania. Cover is provided by Bupa Insurance Ltd. and Bupa Insurance Services Ltd. Bupa Insurance Services Ltd is registered in England and Wales No. 03829851. Bupa Insurance Ltd. is registered in England and Wales No. 3956433.

For more information please contact:

Lidia Pitulea, Public Advisor

The Public Advisors, Tel: 0733 300 777, E-mail: lidia.pitulea@publicadvisors.ro

Chocolate – a food that favours weight loss

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