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Carbohydrate Intake and Overweight and Obesity among Healthy Adults

Merchant AT et al. 
Journal of the American Dietetic Association 2009 (Aug); 109: 1165-1172

A cross-sectional study of carbohydrate intake in relation to overweight and obesity.  Data were taken from The Canadian Community Health Survey Cycle 2.2, 2004-2005 (n=4451 healthy adults).  Diet was evaluated using a 24-hr dietary recall.  One third of respondents were asked to complete the questionnaire for a second, randomly chosen day.  After multivariate adjustment, carbohydrate intake and overweight and obesity were inversely related: the risk of overweight and obesity was 40% lower in the highest carbohydrate intake category, compared to the lowest.  The likelihood of overweight and obesity declined as carbohydrate intake increased, up to 290-310g/d: at that point, the likelihood of overweight/obesity began to rise, but the risk was still reduced as compared to the lowest carbohydrate intakes.  BMI decreased as carbohydrate intake increased, until it reached 290-310g/d.

August 2009

 

 

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