TY - JOUR

T1 - The potential association between fruit intake and body weight - a review

AU - Alinia, Sevil

AU - Hels, Ole

AU - Tetens, Inge

PY - 2009

Y1 - 2009

N2 - 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.

AB - 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.

KW - Adolescent

KW - Adult

KW - Aged

KW - Body Weight

KW - Cross-Sectional Studies

KW - Female

KW - Fruit

KW - Humans

KW - Male

KW - Middle Aged

KW - Obesity

KW - Prospective Studies

KW - Vegetables

KW - Young Adult

KW - Dietary habits

KW - Weight maintenance

KW - Weight reduction

U2 - 10.1111/j.1467-789X.2009.00582.x

DO - 10.1111/j.1467-789X.2009.00582.x

M3 - Review

C2 - 19413705

VL - 10

SP - 639

EP - 647

JO - Obesity Reviews

JF - Obesity Reviews

SN - 1467-7881

IS - 6

ER -