December Summary

This study caught my eye since I have a high interest in working in a weight loss/wellness setting. In our society today, weight loss trends come and go in the blink of an eye. Over the years, we have seen trends like ‘sugar busters’, ‘low carb’, and ‘lemon juice detox’ rise and fall. However, limited research has been published on individualized plans for weight maintenance. As we know, one study does not prove anything. What we can take from this study is trends/challenges Americans face when trying to keep weight off and what we can do as dietitians to assist them in the process.

Question 1

The fact that the researchers did not look at these subsets really puzzled me. This seemed to be the consensus within the entire group as well. Almost everyone agreed that slightly different results would have been seen between the three subgroups and that the ‘person contact intervention’ group would have produced the most positive results. Jamie and Jordan supported this belief by stating that having personal coaches (dietitians, personal trainers) can help keep an individual on track with their goals. Being held accountable for one’s actions can also influence a person to stick with their goals. Ali and Michela were interested in how the interactive technology influenced one’s results; with today’s advancing technology, acquiring interactive tools is as easy as downloading a phone app. Kevin concluded with an interesting thought proposing if the most successful intervention strategy would have changed based on the regional location.

Question 2

This result surprised me; I referenced the EAL to see how this study’s results for dairy consumption compared with other credible studies supported by the ADA. The EAL states that adverse health effects are associated with calcium intakes below the recommended level. This statement can be interpreted many ways. For example, perhaps individuals who do not meet their daily calcium requirements also eat a very poor diet which can also contribute to adverse health effects. It can also mean that persons who do meet/exceed their calcium needs are more health conscious and choose better food options. Jamie agreed that calcium itself may not be a magic weight-loss cure, but combined with a healthy, balanced diet, it can be very beneficial. Ali mentioned that substituting low-fat dairy products for high-fat choices would be a method for increasing nutrients while decreasing caloric intake. Stephanie commented that other calcium sources should also be taught to clients. Kevin raised the point that Vitamin D (from the dairy sources) could have also been an influencing factor in the weight maintenance phase. The increase in dairy consumption was not significant in the weight loss portion of the trial but rather the weight maintenance phase. From everyone’s comments, it can be concluded that substituting low-fat dairy products for fat or for carbohydrates may help individuals keep the weight off. One of the problems considering adherence to the diet listed in the results was satiety. Low-fat dairy products may have added to satiety since they are higher in protein, calcium, and Vitamin D. However, this study did not conclude which individual factor influenced satiety more.

Question 3

This study revealed some interesting sex differences in dietary intake specifically in dietary fiber intake between men and women. More studies will be needed before we can generalize these results to all Americans, but it is an interesting thought to consider. From a male’s perspective, Kevin stated that he consumes fruits and vegetables for their vitamin/mineral content and turns to other whole grains and beans for fiber intake. From personal observations, Jamie proposed that men may turn to more convenience items like fiber bars and snack bars as a source of fiber. While consuming these products may be good additional sources of fiber, Jamie added that they should not replace fruits and vegetables in their entirety. Brooke also agreed that preparing fruits and vegetables (washing, cutting, storing) may be seen as too labor-intensive for some individuals. Michela also brought up the satiety factor; it may be possible that men chose fiber sources with a higher satiety value. Stephanie brought in a much different perspective stating that the media may have influences in one’s fiber intake. It is true that fiber-supplemented products like cereals, bars, and snacks receive much more marketing attention than fruits and vegetables do.