(CNN)Should you chew gum if you're trying to lose weight?Possibly, though you certainly don't have to start a gum habit if you don't already chew gum.Here's the lowdown: Chewing a stick or two of gum won't magically help you shed pounds. Chewing certainly doesn't burn many calories, and it won't undo the calories you just packed away from, say, a large meal or a Thanksgiving feast. Still, for certain individuals, popping a piece of gum could be a helpful strategy when it comes to shedding pounds, especially if doing so helps you steer clear of midday snacking, nighttime nibbling or caving in on dessert.Why exercise won't make you lose weight"I think for some people, it could be a useful tool. ... Everyone has things that can possibly help them on their road to weight loss, and little behaviors like gum chewing can make a big difference for some," said Keri Gans, a registered dietitian nutritionist and author of "The Small Change Diet."Gum chewing can be useful in two ways, according to Gans. For some, putting something sugary in their mouth after they've eaten can signal that the meal is over. "Some people need something sweet at the end of each meal and will search for dessert. If they pop a piece of chewing gum, maybe it can do the trick," she said. You'll also save the calories you might have otherwise consumed in an ice cream cone or piece of cake. Read MoreFor others, especially those who crave snacks in between meals and graze a lot during the day, gum chewing could keep your mouth busy while providing few calories in between meals, Gans explained. Try the 'non-diet diet' One study concluded that chewing gum suppresses appetite, especially the desire for sweets, and reduces snack intake. Specifically, those who chewed gum consumed about 40 fewer calories at the next eating occasion. "Participants reported feeling more satisfied and resisted more decadent foods," said Angel Planells, a Seattle-based registered dietitian and national media spokesman for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.But in another study, chewing gum didn't seem to influence appetite or food intake. And while gum chewing may reduce the frequency of meals, according to yet another study, people may consume more calories from less-nutritious foods when they do eat.In one more study, chewing gum regularly for eight weeks did not help facilitate weight loss in overweight and obese adults. What these findings might suggest is that the effects of chewing gum may differ from person to person and may depend on one's eating personality. Get CNN Health's weekly newsletter Sign up here to get The Results Are In with Dr. Sanjay Gupta every Tuesday from the CNN Health team."If you're someone who works from home and you find yourself wandering into the kitchen too many times, or if you keep visiting an office kitchen that's packed with snacks, here chewing a piece of gum may help," Gans said. "It's putting something in your mouth, it's keeping it busy, it has this great flavor
(CNN)Should you chew gum if you're trying to lose weight?Possibly, though you certainly don't have to start a gum habit if you don't already chew gum.Here's the lowdown: Chewing a stick or two of gum won't magically help you shed pounds. Chewing certainly doesn't burn many calories, and it won't undo the calories you just packed away from, say, a large meal or a Thanksgiving feast. Still, for certain individuals, popping a piece of gum could be a helpful strategy when it comes to shedding pounds, especially if doing so helps you steer clear of midday snacking, nighttime nibbling or caving in on dessert.Why exercise won't make you lose weight"I think for some people, it could be a useful tool. ... Everyone has things that can possibly help them on their road to weight loss, and little behaviors like gum chewing can make a big difference for some," said Keri Gans, a registered dietitian nutritionist and author of "The Small Change Diet."Gum chewing can be useful in two ways, according to Gans. For some, putting something sugary in their mouth after they've eaten can signal that the meal is over. "Some people need something sweet at the end of each meal and will search for dessert. If they pop a piece of chewing gum, maybe it can do the trick," she said. You'll also save the calories you might have otherwise consumed in an ice cream cone or piece of cake. Read MoreFor others, especially those who crave snacks in between meals and graze a lot during the day, gum chewing could keep your mouth busy while providing few calories in between meals, Gans explained. Try the 'non-diet diet' One study concluded that chewing gum suppresses appetite, especially the desire for sweets, and reduces snack intake. Specifically, those who chewed gum consumed about 40 fewer calories at the next eating occasion. "Participants reported feeling more satisfied and resisted more decadent foods," said Angel Planells, a Seattle-based registered dietitian and national media spokesman for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.But in another study, chewing gum didn't seem to influence appetite or food intake. And while gum chewing may reduce the frequency of meals, according to yet another study, people may consume more calories from less-nutritious foods when they do eat.In one more study, chewing gum regularly for eight weeks did not help facilitate weight loss in overweight and obese adults. What these findings might suggest is that the effects of chewing gum may differ from person to person and may depend on one's eating personality. Get CNN Health's weekly newsletter Sign up here to get The Results Are In with Dr. Sanjay Gupta every Tuesday from the CNN Health team."If you're someone who works from home and you find yourself wandering into the kitchen too many times, or if you keep visiting an office kitchen that's packed with snacks, here chewing a piece of gum may help," Gans said. "It's putting something in your mouth, it's keeping it busy, it has this great flavor
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