New Research From Penn State Shows That Eating Soup, Vegetables and Fruits
Increased Weight Loss and Enhanced Satisfaction
LAS VEGAS, Nov 17, 2004 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ — New research presented at
the North American Association for the Study of Obesity (NAASO) annual
meeting suggests that incorporating "low-energy-dense" foods into the
diet — like soup, vegetables and fruits — is a key to calorie reduction
and therefore successful longer term weight loss. This study is one of
several new studies presented by Penn State researchers this week on the
benefits of eating low- energy-dense foods, which are water-rich and have
fewer calories per gram.
"’Eat less’ is not always the best message. You’ve got to guide people to
the best food choices to help them balance their calorie intake," says
Barbara Rolls, Ph.D., author of The Volumetrics Weight-Control Plan, and the
forthcoming book, The Volumetrics Eating Plan. "When people eat
lower-energy- dense foods, they are surprised by the amount of food that
they can eat. They feel full and more satisfied and therefore eat fewer
calories over time. It’s a weight control program that people can stick
with."
Dr. Rolls and her colleagues from the Department of Nutritional Sciences at
The Pennsylvania State University presented five abstracts from their
research on eating behavior and weight control at the meeting. One study,
funded jointly by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and Campbell Soup
Company on "Daily consumption of a low-energy-dense food enhances long-term
weight loss," found that regular consumption of soup, as part of a calorie-
controlled plan, can be an effective strategy for weight loss and weight
maintenance. In this one-year study, subjects who incorporated two servings
of soup a day as part of a reduced-calorie diet lost 16 pounds, compared to
11 pounds lost by subjects who included two servings of calorie-matched
higher- energy-dense snacks like pretzels or baked chips. Importantly, those
in the two servings of soup group on average reported that they felt "very
full" and "less hungry" on their diet plan compared to those in the snack
group.
According to Dr. Rolls’ research, consumption of soup — particularly
broth-based varieties with vegetables or lean protein — is an effective
weight control strategy. She recommends soup as an appetizer, paired with a
sandwich or salad that includes lean protein and a lot of vegetables
followed by fruit for dessert.
Another study by Julie Ello-Martin, Liane Roe, and Dr. Rolls, funded through
a grant from the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney
Diseases at NIH, further examined the role of low-energy-dense foods in the
diet. This research studied the benefits for weight loss when participants
were advised to increase their intake of water-rich foods (e.g., fruits,
vegetables, and soup) in addition to following a reduced-fat diet to reduce
overall energy density. The participants who received the advice to reduce
the energy density of the diet were then compared to another group of
participants who had been advised just to reduce fat intake. Neither group
was given calorie or fat intake limits; instead, participants were
instructed to eat as much as they liked while following the principles of
their diet. After six months, participants who ate the low-energy-dense diet
lost more weight (21 lbs) than those who ate the reduced-fat diet (15 lbs).
The researchers concluded that a lower-energy-dense diet is more effective
for weight loss than a reduced-fat diet alone, and that choosing
low-energy-dense foods as the basis of the diet results in weight loss
without counting calories or fat grams.
"In our studies we focused on positive messages, suggesting that people eat
more of certain foods to help them control their calorie and fat intake
rather than restrictive messages to eat less and count every calorie. One of
the key strategies to control weight is to include water-rich foods like
vegetables, fruits, and soup. These low-energy-dense foods can be eaten in
larger portions to help people feel full and satisfied while they are
consuming fewer calories," adds Rolls.
For more information on soup and weight control please visit
http://www.campbellwellness.com .
SOURCE Campbell Soup Company
