CONCLUSIONS Pasta in the context of low-GI dietary patterns does not adversely affect adiposity and even reduces body weight and BMI compared with higher-GI dietary patterns .
OBJECTIVE Carbohydrate staples such as pasta have been implicated in the obesity epidemic .
It is unclear whether pasta contributes to weight gain or like other low-glycaemic index ( GI ) foods contributes to weight loss .
We synthesis ed the evidence of the effect of pasta on measures of adiposity .
Whole-grain intake as a marker of healthy body weight and adiposity.
OBJECTIVE To review evidence relating to the consumption of whole grains and healthy body weight ( BW ) . DESIGN Systematic review and analysis of observational studies reporting whole-grain consumption and measures of BW and adiposity , including the effect on macronutrient intakes and lifestyle factors . SETTING Medline and other data bases were search ed for the period 1990 to 2006 to produce a full reference list ; observational studies were retained for further analysis if they included an appropriate control group and reported whole-grain intake and body mass index ( BMI ) or a measure of adiposity . SUBJECTS Fifteen trials were identified which included data from 119 829 male and female subjects aged 13 years and over . RESULTS The combined and weighted mean difference in BMI from 15 studies representing 20 treatment groups ( n = 119 829 ) using a r and om-effects model was 0.630 kg/m2 lower when high versus low whole-grain intake was compared , P < 0.0001 ( 95 % confidence interval ( CI ) 0.460 , 0.800 kg/m2 ) . In high consumers , adiposity assessed as waist circumference was reduced by 2.7 ( 95 % CI 0.2 , 5.2 ) cm , P = 0.03 ( six data sets , n = 4178 ) or as waist : hip ratio by 0.023 ( 95 % CI 0.016 , 0.030 ) , P < 0.0001 ( four data sets , n = 20 147 ) . Higher intake of whole grains led to increased dietary fibre intake ( 9 g , P < 0.01 ) , while total and saturated fat intakes decreased by 11 g and 3.9 g , respectively . CONCLUSION A higher intake of whole grains ( about three servings per day ) was associated with lower BMI and central adiposity . In addition , people who consume more whole grains are likely to have a healthier lifestyle as fewer of them smoke , they exercise more frequently and they tend to have lower fat and higher fibre intakes
CONCLUSIONS Pasta in the context of low-GI dietary patterns does not adversely affect adiposity and even reduces body weight and BMI compared with higher-GI dietary patterns .
OBJECTIVE Carbohydrate staples such as pasta have been implicated in the obesity epidemic .
It is unclear whether pasta contributes to weight gain or like other low-glycaemic index ( GI ) foods contributes to weight loss .
We synthesis ed the evidence of the effect of pasta on measures of adiposity .