Eating More Whole Plant Foods Linked to Healthier Weight Status

People who eat more whole grains, fruits, vegetables, and legumes are less likely to gain weight, compared to people who eat more animal products, sweets, fried foods, and refined grains, according to a new study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. Researchers from Harvard looked at data from three large cohorts—the Nurses’ Health Study, the Nurses’ Health Study 2, and the Health Professionals Follow-Up Study—for a total of 126,982 adult participants with more than 20 years of follow-up. Those who ate more healthful plant-based foods gained less weight over the years compared with those who ate less healthful products and animal-based products. The researchers support current dietary recommendations to increase healthful plant foods and decrease animal products and less-healthful plant foods, like french fries and desserts.