High Energy Density Foods Are Less Nutritious and Lead to Weight Gain

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Kant AK, Graubard BI: Energy density of diets reported by American adults: association with food group intake, nutrient intake, and body weight. Int J Obes 29:950–956, 2005.

What is the problem and what is known about it so far?

Some studies suggest that there is a link between how much a person eats and how full they feel with the "energy density" of foods (how many calories a food has).

Many diet studies are done in a laboratory with foods and meals that are easy to measure, but don't reflect the way people really eat.

Why did the researchers do this particular study?

The researchers in this study wanted to study peoples' eating habits and calculate the amount of calories in the foods they eat in order to spot eating trends.

Who was studied?

The study included 13,400 people participating in the third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES III), a national study run by the National Center for Health Statistics.

How was the study done?

Participants answered questions about their health and had a physical exam. The health questions asked for details about the participants' eating habits.

What did the researchers find?

Researchers calculated the amount of calories in participants' diets and put them into one of three categories: all foods and beverages, foods and energy-containing beverages (not to include water and diet soda), and food by itself.

In general, researchers found that the amount of calories in a diet was highest when food was consumed by itself and lower when beverages were included.

Participants with the highest calorie diets ate the least amount of fruits and vegetables, had higher levels of fat in their bodies, and had high body mass indexes (a measure of weight in relation to height).

What were the limitations of the study?

Information about what participants ate was based on what they reported to researchers and may not be accurate or complete. Diet and calorie calculations may not be accurate.

What are the implications of the study?

Foods high in calories have a high energy density, but are low in nutrients and appear to be linked to being overweight and obese.

Adding more fruits and vegetables to a person's diet can help lower the amount of high-calorie foods eaten, add more nutrients to the diet, and reduce calorie intake.