A study of more than 48,000 postmenopausal women has found that a low-fat diet rich in fruits, vegetables and whole grains is not associated with weight gain. Researchers at MedStar Research Institute in Washington, D.C., found that regardless of recent popular diets that recommend eating diets low in carbohydrates, a basic healthy low-fat diet that emphasizes fruits, vegetables and whole grains does in fact work.
This has been the longest study of its kind, lasting seven and a half years. Researchers studied long-term data from the Women's Health Initiative Dietary Modification Trial, which was designed to examine long term benefits and risks of dietary patterns that are low in fat and high in fruits, vegetables and whole grains.
Women in the study were assigned to either a low-fat diet or their usual eating patterns. Results showed that after losing almost 5 pounds in the first year, women on the low-fat diet kept the weight off during the 7 � year study period. The fact that the women did not gain the weight back is significant, since women are prone to weight gain after menopause.
Researchers conclude that a low-fat eating plan does not result in weight gain for postmenopausal women.
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