The Effects of an Energy Density Prescription on Diet Quality and Weight Loss

In the study to examine the effects of ED-based diet prescriptions on diet quality and weight loss during a 3-month behavior-based obesity intervention conducted in a research setting. Forty-four adults with overweight/obesity (age 52.1±7.6 years, body mass index [BMI; calculated as kg/m(2)] 34.8±4.8, 81.8% women, and 93.2% white) were recruited between December 2009 and March 2010 and randomly assigned to: Low ED (consume ≥10 foods ≤1.0 kcal/g dietary ED and ≤2 foods ≥3.0 kcal/g dietary ED per day (n=15); Low-Energy, Low-Fat (1,200 to 1,500 kcal/day, ≤30% energy from fat (n=15); or Low-ED, Low-Energy, Low-Fat (n=14). Participants received 12 weekly group sessions led by a research interventionist. Dietary intake (measured by 3-day food records), self-reported physical activity, and weight were measured at baseline and 3 months. Intent-to-treat analyses showed all conditions reduced dietary ED and energy intake (P<0.001). Low-ED and Low-ED, Low-Energy, Low-Fat interventions increased fruit consumption (P<0.05). All conditions increased self-reported physical activity (P<0.001), with no difference between conditions. Although participants in all conditions lost weight (P<0.001), those in the Low-ED condition lost more (P<0.05) than those in the Low-ED, Low-Energy, Low-Fat condition (Low-ED -20.5±7.0 lb, Low-Energy, Low-Fat -16.9±10.1 lb, and Low-ED, Low-Energy, Low-Fat -12.5± 6.5 lb). A diet prescription that lowered ED increased fruit intake and enhanced weight loss compared with other weight loss prescriptions(1).

  101 Practical Weight Loss Tips
How you can lose way the natural way
Un-cover an amazingly simple way of losing weight

(1) "The Effects of an Energy Density Prescription on Diet Quality and Weight Loss: A Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial" by Raynor HA, Looney SM, Steeves EA, Spence M, Gorin AA.