Carbohydrate intake and obesity
- 9 November 2007
- journal article
- review article
- Published by Springer Science and Business Media LLC in European Journal of Clinical Nutrition
- Vol. 61 (S1), S75-S99
- https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.ejcn.1602939
Abstract
The prevalence of obesity has increased rapidly worldwide and the importance of considering the role of diet in the prevention and treatment of obesity is widely acknowledged. This paper reviews data on the effects of dietary carbohydrates on body fatness. Does the composition of the diet as related to carbohydrates affect the likelihood of passive over-consumption and long-term weight change? In addition, methodological limitations of both observational and experimental studies of dietary composition and body weight are discussed. Carbohydrates are among the macronutrients that provide energy and can thus contribute to excess energy intake and subsequent weight gain. There is no clear evidence that altering the proportion of total carbohydrate in the diet is an important determinant of energy intake. However, there is evidence that sugar-sweetened beverages do not induce satiety to the same extent as solid forms of carbohydrate, and that increases in sugar-sweetened soft drink consumption are associated with weight gain. Findings from studies on the effect of the dietary glycemic index on body weight have not been consistent. Dietary fiber is associated with a lesser degree of weight gain in observational studies. Although it is difficult to establish with certainty that fiber rather than other dietary attributes are responsible, whole-grain cereals, vegetables, legumes and fruits seem to be the most appropriate sources of dietary carbohydrate.Keywords
This publication has 104 references indexed in Scilit:
- Low-glycaemic index diets and body weight regulationInternational Journal of Obesity, 2006
- Comparison of 4 Diets of Varying Glycemic Load on Weight Loss and Cardiovascular Risk Reduction in Overweight and Obese Young AdultsArchives of Internal Medicine, 2006
- Prevalence of Overweight and Obesity in the United States, 1999-2004JAMA, 2006
- Long-term effects of popular dietary approaches on weight loss and features of insulin resistanceInternational Journal of Obesity, 2005
- Micronutrient dilution associated with added sugar intake in elderly black South African womenEuropean Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 2005
- Adverse effect of high added sugar consumption on dietary intake in American preschoolersThe Journal of Pediatrics, 2005
- The nutrition transition: worldwide obesity dynamics and their determinantsInternational Journal of Obesity, 2004
- Dietary Energy Density and Body Weight: Is There a Relationship?Nutrition Reviews, 2004
- Effect of a Mediterranean-Style Diet on Endothelial Dysfunction and Markers of Vascular Inflammation in the Metabolic SyndromeJama-Journal Of The American Medical Association, 2004
- Liquid versus solid carbohydrate: effects on food intake and body weightInternational Journal of Obesity, 2000