A study by the University of Illinois has revealed that a diet rich in protein and fibres can assist individuals best in their weight loss journey.
The trial was carried out for 12 months, with participants’ weight, diet and body composition all assessed at critical milestones within the period.
Volunteers were encouraged to develop their own weight loss diet, though nutritionists did intervene in the study period to advise and tweak an individual’s diet to promote weight loss.
Dietary intake was recorded daily during the study period, and an exit survey allowed comparisons to be drawn from the baseline data.
A protein and fibre combination ideal for weight loss
During the study, large differences in weight loss outcomes were observed between the 22 participants that completed the 12 month study period.
The ‘successful’ participants lost — on average — 12.9% of their body weight, whereas the ‘unsuccessful’ group lost 2%.
Researchers observed that those who had a diet with consistently high levels of protein had better weight loss statistics, which was also mirrored with those who consumed a lot of fibre in the study period.
It was also found that the first three months of the study had a significant impact on the overall outcomes of the weight loss journey.
Mindy Lee, the Senior Manager of US Medical Affairs for Nutritional and Digestive Health at Bayer, and the co-author of this study, commented: “Protein and fibre densities were inversely associated with weight loss, suggesting successful dietary implementation as a key contributor to weight-loss outcomes. Early weight-loss success and early dietary implementation were predictive of successful weight loss at 12 months.”
