Dear DOCTOR Owen:

My husband drives me “crazy.” He is always fidgeting. He talks fast. He looks left and right quickly. He is constantly swinging his legs back and forth. He even jumps and fidgets in his sleep. He is skinny and seems to eat like a horse. He exercises every day, which he says calms him down. How can I get this disease and become thin?

Fidget Fatale

Dear “Fidget”:

Fidgeting is the topic of the year in Obesity Research. It seems that medical science is finally studying a phenomenon that we have observed for years. “Thin and wiry” would aptly describe your husband and countless other “naturally thin” people like him. While the world is getting progressively fatter, there still remains a group that defies corpulence. I’ve reported on this before. However, I could not help reviewing one more article on this subject.

Researchers at the Mayo Clinic measured N.E.A.T. (non-exercise activity thermogenesis), which means “creating energy expenditure without conscious exercise.” This study hoped to better define some of the mechanisms that contribute to “naturally” thin individuals. Fidgeting is one of the proposed N.E.A.T mechanisms.

Energy was measured in an enclosed metabolic chamber while the subjects reclined motionless, sat motionless, fidgeted while seated, stood motionless, fidgeted while standing, and walked on a treadmill at 1, 2, and 3 miles per hour. The results are revealing. Compared to reclining motionless, sitting motionless increased calorie expenditure by 3–8 calories/hour. Fidgeting while seated burned an extra 40–60 calories/hour. Standing motionless increased calorie expenditure by 10–17 calories/hour. Fidgeting while standing increased calories burned by 70–100 calories/hour. Walking increased calories burned by 119 calories/hour (1 mph), 157 calories/hour (2 mph), and 229 calories/hour (3 mph).

Thus, fidgeting increased calories burned by 7–13 times “calm” behavior, which corroborates the observation I have recorded in my book, The Weighting Game (Published in 1995 and available on www.Amazon.com). When speaking before a crowd of obese people, I always notice that there is virtually no background movement or noise in the room. In fact, I often see several heads “nodding off” (from sleep apnea, no doubt). I once thought I was a “god-awful” speaker. However, when speaking before a thin or very young audience, there is much movement, fidgeting, and noise throughout the place. Those groups usually compliment me—even though it is hard to concentrate due to all the distractions going on!

Fidgeting appears to be due to an increase in activity of the autonomic nervous system. “Fidgeters” seem to make more adrenaline-like chemicals, which is why they talk fast, have quick facial or head movements, and even have a hard time finishing a sentence before starting the next one. This has a genetic component and can be increased by certain drugs or foods. Caffeine, nicotine, red pepper, and decongestants and diet pills made from Ephedra increase fidgeting. Tryptophan, which is found in milk, poultry, and cheese, seems to calm fidgeting—and explains why many people are able to relax after having a glass of warm milk before they go to bed. Even exercise seems to increase this activity for several hours after strenuous activity.

The World Health Organization recommends increasing daily activity by 200 calories/day, which equals almost 20 pounds/year in weight:

200 x 365 divided by 3500 calories, or one pound

If you aren’t nervous and irritating like your husband and if you don’t want to take “fidget drugs,” then start walking.