Government officials have issued a health advisory for soccer fans staying up to watch the FIFA World Cup, saying that eating junk food when watching the games could lead to unwanted kilos.
With the tournament in Brazil kicking off this morning, many in Taiwan are turning into soccer fans for the occasion and have plans to catch the big games. However, it will mean sacrificing sleep because, due to the time difference, most matches are to be shown in the early hours of the morning.
According to a spokesperson at the Health Promotion Administration, Ministry of Health and Welfare, people tend to overeat when watching television, and one’s appetite is usually enhanced late at night when the body is tired.
Photo: Wang Chun-chieh, Taipei Times
“When fans watch soccer games at fast-food or sports restaurants, they might consume too many calories at one sitting. Usually the type of fare on offer — hamburgers, fried chicken, french fries, onion rings, cola and beer... contains lots of calories,” the health ministry official said.
He added that a meal of one hamburger with a beef patty, one order of large fries, and one large cola could contain 1,310 calories.
“Someone who weighs 60kg and has a sedentary job only needs 1,800 calories a day,” the official said. He added that a person staying up late and eating a poor diet over the whole period of the World Cup could gain 4.3kg by the end of the tournament.
He advised fans to eat fruits such as guava and tomato, as they contain vitamins A and C and have nutrients that protect the eyes from becoming strained.
Officials also urged people to remind friends and families when watching games together, to slow down on snacks, drink water instead of sweet drinks, and to eat lots of fruit and salad instead of fried chicken, hamburgers, and chips.
“At half-time, it is a good idea to stand up, move around and do some simple exercise. People can stretch and promote circulation. It is important to keep active, and this is the only way to follow the World Cup in a healthy way,” the official added.
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