Can a High-Fiber Diet Prevent Obesity?

While diets low in carbohydrates and high in protein continue to attract the public's attention, researchers at the University of Texas Austin report that "normal-weight" adults tend to eat more fiber and fruit than people who are overweight or obese.

The researchers looked at dietary intakes of more than 100 people of generally the same age and height, half of whom were considered normal weight based on their body mass index and other measurements, and half of whom were overweight or obese. The researchers found the diets of the two groups were similar in many ways, including intakes of sugar, bread, dairy products and vegetables. The main difference between the groups was the amount of fiber consumed by the normal-weight adults 33 percent more dietary fiber and 43 percent more complex carbohydrates each day (per 1,000 calories).

"Obviously, no magic formula exists for weight loss," the researchers write, "but our results indicated that a diet containing more than average amounts of fiber, complex carbohydrate and fruit was associated with normal body fat stores and standard weight for height."

American Dietetic Association Issues Position Statement on "An Evidence-Based Analysis of Individual-, Family-, School- and Community-Based Interventions for Pediatric Overweight"

Excess weight in children is a national problem requiring prevention and treatment efforts in virtually every aspect of a child's life, according to a new position statement of the American Dietetic Association. This is ADA's first official position statement to be based on a rigorous, systematic, evidence-based analysis of the literature on the practical effectiveness of pediatric intervention programs. ADA's position statement is as follows:

The American Dietetic Association recognizing that overweight is a significant problem for children and adolescents in
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Contact: Julia Dombrowski
jdombrowski@eatright.org
312-899-4769
American Dietetic Association
1-Jun-2006