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 .
Habitual Chocolate Consumption May Increase Body Weight in a Dose-Response Manner
Objective Habitual chocolate intake was recently found to be associated with lower body weight in three cross-sectional epidemiological studies . Our objective was to assess whether these cross-sectional results hold up in a more rigorous prospect i ve analysis . Methods We used data from the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities cohort . Usual dietary intake was assessed by question naire at baseline ( 1987–98 ) , and after six years . Participants reported usual chocolate intake as the frequency of eating a 1-oz ( ∼28 g ) serving . Body weight and height were measured at the two visits . Missing data were replaced by multiple imputation . Linear mixed-effects models were used to evaluate cross-sectional and prospect i ve associations between  chocolate intake and adiposity . Results Data were from 15,732 and 12,830 participants at the first and second visit , respectively . More frequent chocolate consumption was associated with a significantly greater prospect i ve weight gain over time , in a dose-response manner . For instance , compared to participants who ate a chocolate serving less often than monthly , those who ate it 1–4 times a month and at least weekly experienced an increase in Body Mass Index ( kg/m2 ) of 0.26 ( 95 % CI 0.08 , 0.44 ) and 0.39 ( 0.23 , 0.55 ) , respectively , during the six-year study period . In cross-sectional analyses the frequency of chocolate consumption was inversely associated with body weight . This inverse association was attenuated after excluding participants with preexisting obesity-related illness . Compared to participants without such illness , those with it had higher BMI and reported less frequent chocolate intake , lower caloric intake , and diets richer in fruits and vegetables . They tended to make these dietary changes after becoming ill . Conclusions Our prospect i ve analysis found that a chocolate habit was associated with long-term weight gain , in a dose-response manner . Our cross-sectional finding that chocolate intake was associated with lower body weight did not apply to participants without preexisting serious illness
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 .