Fruit and vegetable intakes and subsequent changes in body weight in European populations: results from the project on Diet, Obesity, and Genes (DiOGenes).

Description

The association between fruit and vegetable intake with subsequent weight change over 6.5 years was assessed in the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition Study (n=89,432). Per 100 g intake of fruit and vegetables, weight change was -14 g/year (95% CI: -19 to -9 g/year). Among individuals who stopped smoking during follow-up, weight change was -37 g/day (95% CI: -58 to -15 g/year). Weight changes were categorized as minor weight gain (0.5-1.0 kg/year), major weight gain (≥1.0 kg/year), weight loss (≥0.5 kg/year) and weight stability (-0.5 to 0.5 kg/year). Per 100 g intake of fruit and vegetables, the odds ratios were 0.97 (95% CI: 0.95-0.98) for minor weight gain, 0.94 (95% CI: 0.92-0.96) for major weight gain and 0.97 (95% CI: 0.95-0.99) for weight loss. Among individuals who stopped smoking during the follow-up, odds ratios were 0.93 (95% CI: 0.88-0.99), 0.87 (95% CI: 0.81-0.92) and 0.97 (95% CI: 0.88-1.07), respectively. These results suggest that increasing fruit and vegetable intake may help to limit weight gain particularly in individuals who stopped smoking.