Filling Up On Fruit Doesn't Improve Weight Loss

Filling up on large portions of fruits and vegetables may not be an effective weight loss strategy, according to researchers at the University of Alabama at Birmingham.

Researchers used data from 7 randomized controlled trials focusing on increased fruit and vegetable intake and including over 1200 participants, finding no evidence that the strategy aids in weight loss attempts. 
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“Across the board, all studies we reviewed showed a near-zero effect on weight loss,” according to Kathryn Kaiser, Ph.D. “So I don’t think eating more alone is necessarily an effective approach for weight loss because just adding them on top of whatever foods a person may be eating is not likely to cause weight change.”

Researchers also discounted the idea that increased fruit and vegetable intake increased risk of weight gain, saying “an increase in servings does not increase weight, which is a good thing for getting more vitamins and fiber in one’s diet.”

Researchers went on to say that in the context of a healthy diet, the best and most reliable way to reduce weight is to reduce overall caloric intake.

Rather than focus on simply increasing fruit and vegetable intake, they wrote, “we need to design mechanistic studies to understand these things better so we can help the public be best informed and know what to do when it comes to weight-loss efforts,” Kaiser said. “Overly simplified messages don’t seem to be very effective.”

–Michael Potts

References

Kaiser KA, Brown AW, Brown MMB, Shikany JM, et al. Increased fruit and vegetable intake has no discernible effect on weight loss: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Am J Clin Nutr. 2014 June 25 [epub ahead of print]. doi: 10.3945/​ajcn.114.090548

University of Alabama at Birmingham.  Fruits and vegetables: good for health, not necessarily a weight loss method [press release]. June 26, 2014.  http://www.newswise.com/articles/fruits-and-vegetables-good-for-health-not-necessarily-a-weight-loss-method Accessed June 30, 2014.