Posted by kathryn in Nutrition

Results of a new study show that eating foods which fill you up, but provide fewer kilojoules, make it easier to lose weight .

Sounds obvious doesn’t it? However it’s still something a lot of people who want to lose weight are not doing.

The research from Pennsylvania State University split women into two groups. One group simply reduced their total kilojoule intake. While the other group reduced their kilojoule intake, but also increased the amount of fruits, vegetables and other low-energy density foods they consumed.

At the end of a year both groups had lost weight, but the group who filled up on low-energy foods had lost more. They also reported feeling less hungry.

“Incorporating low calorie-dense foods into the diet is an effective strategy for lowering calories and reducing hunger when you’re trying to lose weight,” study co-author Dr Julia A. Ello-Martin, of Pennsylvania State University said. “This is an approach that allows you to focus on the foods that you should be eating” rather than focusing on restricting kilojoules, she added.

Of course there’s an extra benefit, by increasing your intake of fruit and vegies, you’re also improving your overall health.

25 June, 2007