04.28.10
A study just completed by the Yale-Griffin Prevention Research Center indicates that when it comes to effects on weight, not all snacking is created equal. In contrast to some recent studies linking snacking to weight gain, this study, which provided two KIND Fruit & Nut bars per day as snacks to 94 overweight adults, found that no weight gain occurred.
“A pilot study of this same intervention actually suggested that two daily KIND bars might lead to weight loss,” said Dr. David Katz, director of Yale’s Prevention Research Center, and principal investigator of the trial. “We didn’t see that, but we saw no weight gain at all either—despite the fact that we added the KIND bars to baseline diets and didn’t provide any particular guidance to the study participants on how to make room for these calories.”
Study participants were assigned to either the control group or the experimental group. Members of the control group were advised to follow their normal daily diet while members of the experimental group were asked to add two KIND Fruit & Nut bars to their habitual diet for the duration of eight weeks. At the end of the study, Dr. Katz and his team of researchers found that members of both groups successfully maintained their weight, body mass index (BMI), and waist size—despite the fact that the experimental group had added approximately 350 calories to their daily diet.
“We know that high-calorie, low-nutrient snacks can contribute to weight gain and poor health,” said Dr. Katz. “Our hypothesis was that snack foods that are highly nutritious and filling could help control appetite, reduce consumption of other foods, and add nutrients to the diet without adding calories. That, apparently, is just what happened.”
Recent reports from Health Affairs estimate that our nation’s youth are eating an average of three snacks per day, lending greater significance to the findings from this study. This trend toward increased snacking occasions gives rise to the need for people to educate themselves on what constitutes a healthy snack.
“Our nation’s search to find a cause for the obesity epidemic has led many to fault snacking,” Dr. Katz explained. “However these study results demonstrate that snacking cannot be generally categorized. Instead, these results substantiate the theory that snacking on nutritious foods packed with protein and fiber can help to control appetite and prevent overeating. Further, snacking on healthy foods in between meals can help to achieve daily recommended levels of valuable vitamins and nutrients.”
This study was partially funded by KIND, LLC.