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Division of Endocrinology, Departments of
Pediatrics and Medicine, Harvard Medical
School and Children's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts,
USA. mark.pereira@tch.harvard.edu
Dietary
fiber may be related to body-weight regulation
through plausible physiologic mechanisms
that have considerable support in the scientific
literature. Many short-term studies suggest
that high-fiber foods induce greater satiation
and satiety. Epidemiologic studies generally
[figure: see text] support a role for fiber
in body-weight regulation among free-living
individuals consuming self-selected diets,
although conclusive intervention studies
addressing this point are lacking.
Thus,
there is considerable reason to conclude
that fiber-rich diets, containing
non-starchy vegetables, fruits, whole grains,
legumes, and nuts, may be effective in
the prevention and treatment of obesity in
children. Such diets may have additional
benefits, independent of changes in adiposity,
in the prevention of cardiovascular disease
and type 2 diabetes.
PMID: 11494646
[PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
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