potential association between fruit intake and body weight - a review

Both national and international bodies recommend an increased intake of fruits and vegetables in order to decrease the risk of overweight and obesity. However, there is a rationale to investigate the separate role of fruits. The aim of this paper was to systematically review and analyse published hu...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Obesity reviews 2009-11, Vol.10 (6), p.639-647
Main Authors: Alinia, S, Hels, O, Tetens, I
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adolescent
Adult
Aged
Body Weight
Cross-Sectional Studies
Dietary habits
Female
Fruit
Humans
Male
Middle Aged
obesity
Obesity - epidemiology
Obesity - prevention & control
Prospective Studies
Vegetables
weight control
weight loss
weight maintenance
weight reduction
Young Adult
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Summary:Both national and international bodies recommend an increased intake of fruits and vegetables in order to decrease the risk of overweight and obesity. However, there is a rationale to investigate the separate role of fruits. The aim of this paper was to systematically review and analyse published human intervention, prospective observational and cross-sectional studies on fruit intake and body weight in adults. We identified three intervention, eight prospective observational and five cross-sectional studies that explored this relationship. Two of the intervention studies showed that fruit intake reduced body weight, five of the prospective observational studies showed that fruit consumption reduced the risk of developing overweight and obesity, and four of the cross-sectional studies found an inverse association between fruit intake and body weight. Important methodological differences and limitations in the studies make it difficult to compare results. However, the majority of the evidence points towards a possible inverse association between fruit intake and overweight. Future intervention and prospective observational studies examining the direct and independent role of fruit in body-weight management in free-living individuals are needed. Moreover, important determinants such as energy density, energy content, fruit and vegetable consumption, physical form of fruit and preparation methods need to be included in future studies.
ISSN:1467-7881
1467-789X
DOI:10.1111/j.1467-789X.2009.00582.x