Dietary Fiber and Whole Grain Intake Lessen Gains in Weight and Waist Circumference in Normal Weight Individuals

Authors: QUATROMONI, PAULA - BOSTON UNIV; MCKEOWN, NICOLA - TUFTS/HNRCA; ROGERS, GAIL - TUFTS/HNRCA; Jacques, Paul

Submitted to: Annual Scientific Meeting NAASO, The Obesity Society
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 6/1/2006
Publication Date: 10/22/2006
Citation: Quatromoni, P., Mckeown, N., Rogers, G., Jacques, P. 2006. Dietary Fiber and Whole Grain Intake Lessen Gains in Weight and Waist Circumference in Normal Weight Individuals. Annual Scientific Meeting NAASO, The Obesity Society. October 20-24, 2006: Boston, MA. Abstract no. 9-OR.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Foods rich in dietary fiber, such as whole grains, may play an important role in maintaining a healthy body weight and preventing obesity because of their lower energy density. We examined the relationship between dietary fiber and whole grain consumption and changes in body weight and waist circumference over 7 years of follow-up in the Framingham Offspring cohort. Analyses included 2,814 middle-aged adult men and women who completed a 131-item FFQ at baseline and who had complete data on body weight and waist circumference measured seven years later. General linear models included age, gender, baseline weight or waist circumference, energy and alcohol intakes, physical activity, smoking, hypertension treatment, use of estrogen, and cholesterol-lowering medication as covariates. Because the relationships between intake of fiber and whole grains differed by baseline BMI status, analyses were stratified by BMI<25 and BMI'25. Quintiles of intake were calculated separately for fiber and for whole grain intakes and tests for trend across increasing quintiles were calculated. Median fiber intake and whole grain intake across quintile categories was 16.7 g/day (range 4.4-51.2) and 12.3 g/day (range 0-221), respectively. In normal weight adults, higher fiber intake was associated with less weight gain (3.4 lbs vs 5.6 lbs in the highest compared to the lowest quintile; p-trend=0.01) and less gain in waist circumference (2.4 inches vs 3.7 inches; p-trend<0.0001) during follow-up. Also in normal weight adults, higher whole grain consumption was associated with less weight gain (2.9 lbs vs 6.2 lbs; p-trend=0.03) and less gain in waist circumference (2.6 inches vs 3.7 inches; p-trend<0.001). In contrast, overweight adults who reportedly ate more fiber gained more weight (1.7 lbs versus 5.5 lbs in the lowest compared to the highest quintile; p-trend<0.001) but experienced no significant differences in gain in waist circumference. No significant association was observed with whole grain intake and changes in either weight or waist circumference in overweight adults. In conclusion, the beneficial effects of an increased intake of dietary fiber or whole grain foods on weight gain and abdominal adiposity was greater among those who were normal weight at baseline.