Reduced-fat dairy products, fruit, and fiber associated with lower bodyweight

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Friday, July 30, 2004 11:01 am Email this article
The one-fifth of people eating the most reduced-fat dairy products, fruit, and fiber weighed less than the one-fith eating the least according to a new study from researchers at the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Reduced-fat dairy products, fruit, and fiber: Those eating most had less overweight and obesity, weighed 10-15 pounds less

The one-fifth eating the most reduced-fat dairy products, fruit, and fiber had an average body mass index (BMI) of 23.9 compared to a BMI of 25.9 for the one-fifth of people eating the least. This difference is roughly equivalent to 10 pounds for women and 15 pounds for men.

The one-fifth eating the most reduced-fat dairy products, fruit, and fiber were less likely to be overweight—27 percent versus 40 percent—and less likely to be obese—7 percent versus 12 percent.

The one-fifth eating the most reduced-fat dairy products, fruit, and fiber consumed nearly twice as much fiber as the one-fifth of people eating the least:  28 grams of fiber per day compared to 16 grams per day for.

The one-fifth eating the most reduced-fat dairy products, fruit, and fiber compared to the one-fifth eating the least consumed:

• Dairy products, reduced-fat
  7 servings of per week vs 1 serving


• Cereals, ready-to-eat
  8 servings of per week vs 1 serving


• Fruits
  9 servings of per week vs 4 servings


• Fruit juice
  5 servings of per week vs 2 servings


• Bread, non-white
  5 servings of per week vs 2 servings


• Bread, white and refined grains
  6 servings of per week vs 10 servings


• Meat
  4 servings of per week vs 9 servings


• Meat, processed
  1 servings of per week vs 5 servings


• Potatoes
  2 servings of per week vs 5 servings


• Sodas, non-diet
  1 servings of per week vs 3 servings


• Alcohol
  2 servings of per week vs 6 servings


• Grains, whole
  2 servings of per week vs 1 serving


• Fat, dietary
  31 percent versus 37 percent


• Protein, dietary
  17 percent versus 15 percent


• Carbohydrates, dietary
  55 percent versus 45 percent

Sweets: Less overweight and obesity among those eating the most

There was no difference in BMI for the one-fifth of people eating the most sweets versus the one-fifth of people eating the least: BMI 25 for those eating the most versus 25.4 for those eating the least.

Interestingly, the one-fifth eating the most sweets were less likely to be overweight—38 percent versus 44 percent—and less likely to be obese—7 percent versus 10 percent.

Protein and alcohol: No difference in obesity among those eating the most versus least

There was no difference in BMI for the one-fifth of people eating the most protein and alcohol versus the one-fifth of people eating the least: BMI 25.4 for those eating the most versus 25.2 for those eating the least.

There was no difference in overweight or obesity between those eating the most protein and alcohol and those eating the least.

Subjects: 459 men and women

The study analyzed dietary records from 459 healthy men and women participating in the Baltimore Longitudinal Study of Aging.

REFERENCE

Newby P, Muller D, Hallfrisch J, Andres R, Tucker K. Food patterns measured by factor analysis and anthropometric changes in adults. Am J Clin Nutr. 2004 Aug, 80(2):504-13.

AUTHOR’S CONTACT INFORMATION

P. Newby
Jean Mayer US Department of Agriculture Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging at Tufts University
Boston, and the National Institute on Aging
National Institutes of Health
Baltimore, MD

Articles on the same subject can be found here:

• Alcohol

• Carbohydrates

• Cereal

• Fat Intake (Dietary Fat)

• Fiber (Dietary Fiber)