What 3 Studies Show Us About Dieting, Belief, and Food Addiction

Tight28 starts July 6! This 28-day advanced program eliminates dairy, gluten, soy, and added sugar to reset your system, reduce inflammation, and finally move the needle on progress stalls. Learn more at 👉 www.tight28.com

In this thought-provoking episode of Mastering Midlife, Joanne Lee Cornish connects three powerful studies that shine a light on the psychological, metabolic, and societal complexities around food, dieting, and body composition—especially in today’s world of quick fixes and hyper-palatable temptations.

💡 Here's what we cover:

1. 🧠 The Minnesota Starvation Study

   • Conducted post-WWII, this landmark study reveals the shocking physical and psychological toll of calorie restriction—even at 1,500 calories per day.

   • Discover how restriction damages metabolism, distorts thinking, sparks binge behavior, and alters emotional health.

2. 💭 The Hotel Worker Study

   • This modern study shows how belief alone—without any behavior change—can lead to measurable improvements in weight, blood pressure, and metabolic markers.

   • A fascinating dive into the science of self-perception and how we often sabotage ourselves by believing we're not doing enough.

3. 🐀 The Rat & the Cheesecake Study

   • When rats were exposed to ultra-palatable foods, their appetite regulators broke, and they ignored real food—even to the brink of death.

   • This is the chilling parallel to modern food addiction, especially in people under 40 raised on processed foods. Joanne explains how food preferences are not just habits—they’re chemically wired responses that can be reprogrammed.

🧩 Key Takeaways:

• Dieting doesn't fail because of lack of willpower—it fails because of biological and emotional backlash.

• Belief systems directly impact health outcomes.

• Processed food has hijacked taste buds and disrupted our natural hunger signals—but it’s reversible with the right approach.

• Teens and adults alike need education, not more rules.

🔥 Plus, Joanne shares how these findings are shaping her upcoming Teenage Thrive program and how Tight28 provides real answers to chronic inflammation, fatigue, bloating, and stubborn body fat.

💥 Ready to go beyond the macros?

Join the next round of Tight28, starting July 6. This is a deeper-dive body composition program covering not only nutrition, but also the roles of cardio, liver, kidney, and heart health in achieving your goals.

🖥️ Learn more and enroll at 👉 www.tight28.com