FOOD GOING TO WAIST

Nearly two-thirds (63%) of adults in England are overweight or living with obesity—and one in three children leaves primary school in that category. Even with drugs like Ozempic offering short-term success, lasting change depends on a realistic, sustainable lifestyle once the medication ends.

Recent research suggests that our mindset about food can be as important as the food itself. Science writer David Robson, in The Expectation Effect, notes that the way we think about eating can directly influence how our bodies respond.

A 2016 Canadian–French study found that when people anticipated their meal—focusing on its flavours, textures, and the pleasure of the experience—they chose smaller portions. After eating, those who reflected on their enjoyment were also less tempted to snack later. In short: mindful eating leads to healthier choices. Picture it: not shovelling down lunch at your desk while checking emails, but pausing, savouring, and actually tasting every bite.

Surprisingly, this isn’t a new insight—it’s embedded in Jewish tradition.

In this week’s parasha, we read about food in the context of the Land of Israel, followed by the verse:

“You shall eat, and be satisfied, and bless the L-d your G-d.”

From here, the rabbis derive the requirement to say blessings before and after eating.

Before eating, we pause to acknowledge that food is a divine gift. For example, before eating an apple we say:

“Blessed are You, O L-d, King of the Universe, who creates the fruit of the tree,”
and then we eat.

After eating, we reflect again—not to count calories, but to express gratitude. The fullest expression is Birkat HaMazon (bentching), recited after a bread-based meal, with shorter after-blessings for other foods.

Our sages weren’t thinking about obesity; their aim was to heighten our awareness of life’s blessings—even in something as ordinary as eating. Yet their framework aligns perfectly with Robson’s advice. By blessing before and after a meal, we build awareness, intention, and gratitude into our eating.

Saying berachot may not guarantee physical weight loss—
but it will certainly guarantee spiritual weight gain!