Researchers from the University of Exeter have found that both flexible (fractional meals) and strict (calorie-counting) dietary restrictions help people with an inherited high risk of obesity avoid obesity. Research published International Journal of Epidemiology.
Previous research has identified about 900 genes associated with a high risk of obesity. Many are related to human behavior and the control of hunger. Up to 25% of the “genetic” weight people gain due to increased hunger and uncontrolled (including emotional) meals.
The new study involved 3,780 Britons aged 22 to 92. Their weight and height were measured by doctors, and they also gave blood samples from which they extracted DNA and filled out questionnaires assessing their eating behavior.
As expected, a higher genetic risk score was associated with higher weight (for the same height), partly due to frequent overeating and increased hunger. However, the results also showed that these effects were almost 50% lower in people who followed their diets and tried not to overeat, with both flexible and rigid restriction strategies working.
The first involves fractional nutrition, that is, eating small portions throughout the day. Difficult strategies include counting calories. The study shows for the first time that both of these strategies help with weight management in people prone to obesity.
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Source: Gazeta
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