Carbohydrate Quality, Source Important for Weight Management

THURSDAY, Sept. 28, 2023 (HealthDay News) -- Carbohydrate quality and source are important for long-term weight management, according to a study published online Sept. 27 in The BMJ.

Yi Wan, Ph.D., from the Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health in Boston, and colleagues examined the associations between changes in carbohydrate intake and weight change at four-year intervals. Data were included for 136,432 men and women aged 65 years or younger from the Nurses' Health Study, the Nurses' Health Study II, and Health Professionals Follow-Up Study.

The researchers found that participants gained 1.5 kg every four years on average, amounting to 8.8 kg over 24 years. Increases in glycemic index and glycemic load were positively associated with weight gain among men and women. For example, 1.5 and 0.9 kg greater weight gain over four years was seen in association with a 100-g/day increase in starch or added sugar, respectively, while 0.8 kg less weight gain was seen in association with a 10-g/day increase in fiber. Inverse associations with weight gain were seen for increased carbohydrate intake from whole grains, fruit, and nonstarchy vegetables (0.4, 1.6, and 3.0 kg less weight gain per 100-g/day increase, respectively); positive associations with weight gain were seen for increased intake from refined grains and starchy vegetables (0.8 and 2.6 kg more weight gain per 100-g/day increase, respectively). There was an association observed for less weight gain in substitution analyses replacing refined grains, starchy vegetables, and sugar sweetened beverages with equal servings of whole grains, fruit, and nonstarchy vegetables.

"These findings support the potential importance of carbohydrate quality and source for long-term weight control," the authors write.

Abstract/Full Text