【英语时差8,16】快速减肥

In this Moment of Science Don tells Yael about another weight loss program. At least this one has some scientific validity¹, but don't count on losing a lot of weight this way.  D: One thing you listeners don't know about me is that I used to weigh an incredible² three hundred pounds. Ever since I started the Moment of Science weight loss program, though, I've been slimming and trimming until I'm now in the spectacular³ shape you see today.

Y: Don . . . you look the same as you always have.

D: Well, okay. But I do fidget.

Y: You fidget? What does fidgeting have to do with weight?

D: Maybe a lot! Researchers at the Mayo Clinic in Minnesota did some experiments to try to figure out why some people gain weight more than others do.

Y: Boy, I can relate to that. Some people can eat whatever they want and they never seem to gain a pound.

D: In this study, volunteers were given a thousand extra calories a day--about two cheeseburger's worth of extra intake⁴.

Y: This kind of study I'd like to be in!

D: Well anyway, they also wore special devices that recorded how much they moved-- you know, walking up and down steps and whatnot. Everybody gained weight, but some people gained much less than others. The culprit? Fidgeting.

Y: You mean just drumming your fingers or scratching your neck or something?

D: Any motion takes energy to perform. And little motions like rearranging things on your desk or stretching your back, if you do them all the time, start to add up. We generally only think of large motions, like exercise, as burning calories. But people who have the fidgets may be doing a slow, steady burn all day long.  

1 validity   

n.有效性，正确性，正当

参考例句：

• I would question the validity of that assumption.我会质疑那个假设的正当性。
• The tests have been shown to be of dubious validity.这些试验的有效性已显得令人怀疑。

2 incredible   

adj.难以置信的，不可信的，极好的，大量的

参考例句：

• Some planets run at incredible speed.某些星球以难以置信的速度运行着。
• Her answer showed the most incredible stupidity.她的回答显示出不可思议的愚蠢。

3 spectacular   

adj.引人注目的，出色的，与众不同的

参考例句：

• This is a spectacular film.这是一部场面壮观的电影。
• This is the most spectacular financial crash of the decade.这是10年里最引人注目的金融破产事件。

4 intake   

n.吸入，纳入；进气口，入口

参考例句：

• Reduce your salt intake.减少盐的摄入量。
• There was a horrified intake of breath from every child.所有的孩子都害怕地倒抽了一口凉气。