Conclusion : Cocoa/DC supplementation does not reduce anthropometric measures significantly .
However subgroup analysis regarding dose ( ≥ 30 g/day ) and duration ( between 4 to 8 weeks ) revealed significant reduction of body weight and BMI
ABSTRACT Background : Cocoa and dark chocolate ( DC ) have been reported to be effective for health promotion ; however the exact effect of cocoa/DC on anthropometric measures have not been yet defined .
A reduced-calorie dietary pattern including a daily sweet snack promotes body weight reduction and body composition improvements in premenopausal women who are overweight and obese: a pilot study.
Reduced-calorie diets are difficult to follow because they often require elimination of certain foods , leading to poor compliance and limited success . However , a low-calorie , nutrient-dense diet has the potential to accommo date a daily snack without exceeding energy requirements , even during weight loss . This pilot study evaluated the effects of a reduced-calorie diet including either a daily dark chocolate snack or a non-chocolate snack on anthropometric and body composition measurements . In a r and omized clinical trial , 26 overweight and obese ( body mass index ≥25 to ≤43 ) premenopausal women were assigned to a reduced-calorie diet that included either a daily dark chocolate snack or non-chocolate snack ( n=13 per group ) for 18 weeks . At baseline and end of study , body weight and waist and hip circumferences were measured along with fat mass , lean mass , and body fat percentage by dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry . Energy and macronutrient intakes were estimated from 4-day food records . Within- and between-group changes from baseline were analyzed using paired t tests and independent t tests , respectively . Women in both snack groups reduced estimated daily energy intake ( P<0.001 ) . Women in both the dark chocolate snack and non-chocolate snack groups , respectively , experienced decreases ( P<0.001 ) in body weight ( -5.1 vs -5.1 kg ) , hip circumference ( -5.8 vs -5.4 cm ) , waist circumference ( -5.7 vs -3.5 cm ) , fat mass ( -3.9 vs -3.6 kg ) , and body fat percentage ( -3.4 % vs -3.1 % ) , with no change in lean mass . Improvements in anthropometric and body composition measurements among overweight and obese premenopausal women can be achieved with a reduced-calorie diet including either a daily dark chocolate snack or non-chocolate snack
Conclusion : Cocoa/DC supplementation does not reduce anthropometric measures significantly .
However subgroup analysis regarding dose ( ≥ 30 g/day ) and duration ( between 4 to 8 weeks ) revealed significant reduction of body weight and BMI
ABSTRACT Background : Cocoa and dark chocolate ( DC ) have been reported to be effective for health promotion ; however the exact effect of cocoa/DC on anthropometric measures have not been yet defined .