Healthy Diets Can Ward Off Obesity Even in Those With Genetic Risk

A healthy eating pattern has an impact on weight loss even in those who are genetically at risk of obesity.

Highlights

Healthy eating diet pattern can alter the risk of obesity in those who have a genetic risk.
A diet rich in fruit and vegetables and low in processed foods can diminish the genetic association with weight gain.

Following a healthy eating pattern to prevent weight gain, in the long run, can be more evident in those who have a high genetic risk for obesity.

Obesity is a complex disorder involving a mix of genes and environmental influences. Previous research has shown that diets high in sugar-sweetened drinks and fried foods could amplify the genetic associations with higher body weight.

Fruits, Vegetables for Healthy Weight Loss
For healthy weight loss, focus on consuming low-calorie foods such as fruits and vegetables because food items that are low in energy density help you lose weight faster.

‘Improving diet quality over time might prevent long-term weight gain in people who are genetically susceptible to obesity.’

In the case, could following a diet rich in fruit and vegetables and low in processed foods diminish the genetic association with weight gain? And could the benefits of a healthy diet pattern on weight loss be the same for people with a distinct genetic susceptibility to obesity?

Dr Lu Qi, Professor of Epidemiology, and other researchers from Tulane University and Harvard University analyzed data from two large studies of US health professionals - 8,828 women in the Nurses' Health Study and 5,218 men from the Health Professionals Follow-up Study from 1986 to 2006.

The research team says their findings indicate that improving diet quality over time might lead to greater weight loss for people who are genetically susceptible to obesity. The study also indicates that the genetic risk of weight gain is attenuated by improving diet quality.

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Association Between Genes And Dietary Changes

The genetic risk score was calculated using 77 gene variants associated with body mass index. Changes in body mass index and weight were calculated every four years.

Diet and Nutrition for Healthy Weight Loss
Correct diet and a planned exercise regime is the mantra of healthy and sustainable weight loss.

Changes in dietary patterns were also assessed every four years using three diet quality scores - the Alternate Healthy Eating Index 2010 (AHEI-2010), Dietary Approach to Stop Hypertension (DASH), and Alternate Mediterranean Diet (AMED). These diets are all rich in fruit and vegetables, nuts and whole grains and low in salt, sugary drinks, alcohol and red and processed meats.

After 20 years of follow-up, the research team found that improving adherence to the AHEI-2010 and DASH was associated with decreases in body mass index and body weight. The effect was more prominent in people at high genetic risk for obesity than those with low genetic risk. In addition, they note that "the genetic risk of weight gain is attenuated by improving adherence to these healthy dietary patterns." No clear interaction pattern was found for AMED.

Carbohydrates and Weight Loss
Different diets emphasise different levels of carbohydrate restriction. And some diets claim carbohydrate to be the villain of their weight loss program.

The authors point out that this is an observational study, so no firm conclusions can be drawn about cause and effect. They also acknowledge several limitations including the influence of unmeasured factors, such as physical activity, and that the results may not apply generally because the study was restricted to health professionals of European descent. Nevertheless, they say their findings "highlight the importance of improving adherence to a healthy diet in the prevention of weight gain, particularly in people genetically predisposed to obesity."

As with many genetic association studies, the effect of genetic predisposition was small, they write. However the findings "do provide encouraging new evidence that whilst a better diet can improve weight loss, the impact may be greatest in those with the highest genetic predisposition for obesity."

They argue that "genetic predisposition is no barrier to successful weight management and no excuse for weak health and policy responses" and say governments and populations "must act to ensure universal healthy diets within health-promoting food environments and food systems."

Reference

Lu Qi et al., ‘Improving adherence to healthy dietary patterns, genetic risk, and long-term weight gain: gene-diet interaction analysis in two prospective cohort studies.’ BMJ (2018). https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.j5644.

Source-Medindia