Live long and eat less

http://www.scientificamerican.com/blog/60-second-science/post.cfm?id=fewer-calories--longer-life-a-new-p-2009-07-09

I can't imagine the dedication it takes to perform a 20 year long experiment. The amount of mistakes made on a typical day long experiment are exponential, 20 years is unfathomable. Regardless, greater men have prevailed and successfully performed procedures on primates to test low-caloric intake diets in the hopes of finding increased lifespans.

Rhesus monkeys typically have a lifespan of 27 years. In this recent study, scientists have shown that rhesus monkeys, fed a third less food, have a higher survival rate. With 63% of low-caloric dieting monkeys still alive versus 45% with non-restricted diets still being alive after 20 years of experimentation. This study is significant, and qualified, meaning all factors were monitored and strickly controlled. Deaths not relating to old age were not quantified in this research.

Does this mean that humans need to split every meal into thirds and walk out with one portion every time we eat. Possibly. As the study is not on humans, and although backed by this and studies on lesser complex animals, there is not enough evidence supporting this hypothesis.

However, that isn't going to stop me from cutting down my food anyway. I'm from the camp which believes that portion sizes, especially restaurant portions. I realize that if they made them into normal sizes that they couldn't charge 10 dollars a plate, but come on I don't need to eat a full plate of that crap.

The problem with this experimentation on human's is that we're notorious sneak-eaters. How can you keep your trails factors controlled? It's very close to impossible.