Within each 4-year period, participants gained an average of 3.35 lb (5th to 95th percentile, −4.1 to 12.4). On the basis of increased daily servings of individual dietary components, 4-year weight change was most strongly associated with the intake of potato chips (1.69 lb), potatoes (1.28 lb), sugar-sweetened beverages (1.00 lb), unpro- cessed red meats (0.95 lb), and processed meats (0.93 lb) and was inversely associated with the intake of vegetables (−0.22 lb), whole grains (−0.37 lb), fruits (−0.49 lb), nuts (−0.57 lb), and yogurt (−0.82 lb) (P≤0.005 for each comparison). Aggregate dietary changes were associated with substantial differences in weight change (3.93 lb across quintiles of dietary change)....
A habitual energy imbalance of about 50 to 100 kcal per day may be suff icient to cause the gradual weight gain seen in most persons.57,58 This means that unintended weight gain occurs easily but also that modest, sustained changes in lifestyle could mitigate or reverse such an energy imbalance. Our findings suggest that both individual and population-based strategies to help people consume fewer calories may be most effective when particular foods and beverages are tareted for decreased (or increased) consumption. Aggregate dietary changes accounted for substantial differences in weight gain, with additional contributions from changes in physical activity and television watching, thus highlighting specific life- style changes that might be prioritized in obesity prevention strategies.
The problem is really much simpler. Remember:
1. One pound on weight gain is due to 3500 excess Kcal
2. The normal burn rate per person is 2000 Kcal.
3. Eat more and after step one you gain a pound.
Simple, no study needed.
Now the BBC speaks of a study which states:
Researchers from Imperial College London and Harvard University analysed data from 2.7m people across every continent, using statistical techniques to project a worldwide figure.
They claim the total number of people with diabetes - which can be fatal - has risen from 153m to 347m. ... Its authors said 70% of the rise was down to people living longer.
The rise has been most pronounced in the Pacific Islands. In the Marshall Islands a third of all women have the condition.
Majid Ezzati, of Imperial College London, said: "Diabetes is becoming more common almost everywhere in the world.
"Unless we develop better programs for detecting people with elevated blood sugar and helping them to control their weight, diabetes will continue to impose a major burden on health systems around the world."
Diabetes leads to inadequate blood sugar control, which can damage the kidneys and cause blindness. It can also cause heart disease and strokes.
The condition is closely linked with obesity. Patients have to inject themselves with insulin.
Now we have written extensively on this issue:
1. Weight control is simple, keep the consumption down.
2. Obesity is the dominant cause of Type 2 Diabetes.
3. The input is driven by processed food and excess consumption. For example I have seen offices where the junk food is excessive. People are eating all the time. Then they go out and they get American portions which exceed normal portions by a factor of three.
Thus the NEJM study is interesting because it states what some of the specifics are, but that was a well known fact. Nurses are especially at risk as one would suspect since they are in a high stress environment and have food often readily available, just look behind many a nurse station.
The Lancet study in the BBC article just clearly articulates the result.
That I believe will be the major driver for future health care costs!
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