Diet type and changes in food cravings following weight loss: Findings from the POUNDS LOST Trial

Abstract

Few well-controlled trials have evaluated the effects that macronutrient composition has on changes in food cravings during weight loss treatment. The present study, which was part of the POUNDS LOST trial, investigated whether the fat and protein content of four different diets affected changes in specific food cravings in overweight and obese adults. A sample of 811 adults were recruited across two clinical sites, and each participant was randomly assigned to one of four macronutrient prescriptions: (1) Low fat (20% of energy), average protein (15% of energy); (2) Moderate fat (40%), average protein (15%); (3) Low fat (20%), high protein (25%); (4) Moderate fat (40%), high protein (25%). With few exceptions, the type of diet that participants were assigned did not differentially affect changes in specific food cravings. Participants assigned to the high fat diets, however, had reduced cravings for carbohydrates at Month12 (p< .05) and fruits and vegetables at Month 24. Also, participants assigned to high protein diets had increased cravings for sweets at Month 6 (p< .05). Participants in all four dietary conditions reported significant reductions in food cravings for specific types of foods (i.e., high fat foods, fast food fats, sweets, and carbohydrates/starches; all ps< .05). Cravings for fruits and vegetables, however, were increased at Month 24 (p< .05). Calorically restricted diets (regardless of their macronutrient composition) yielded significant reductions in cravings for fats, sweets, and starches whereas cravings for fruits and vegetables were increased.

Impact of food craving and calorie intake on body mass index (BMI) changes during an 18-month behavioral weight loss trial

“…Consistent with previous literature (Anton et al, 2012; Martin et al, 2006, 2011), diet restriction and food craving showed similar patterns of reduction during the active (weekly) treatment period. Importantly, from baseline to 6 months, higher levels of initial food craving predicted less steep declines in BMI.…”

“…Longitudinal evidence has also reported relationships between food cravings, energy intake, and BMI, with experimental evidence suggesting that caloric restriction is related to decreased food cravings and weight loss decreased food cravings (Anton et al, 2012; Martin et al, 2011). The experimental evidence suggests that changes in food intake may actually influence food cravings.…”

Extended calorie restriction suppresses overall and specific food cravings: a systematic review and a meta‐analysis

“…However, the interventions were substantially heterogeneous. For instance, subjects in some study arms were instructed and provided resources to restrict their energy intake by a certain number of calories 23–25 or by a percentage of their estimated energy intake 18 , while participants of other studies were given a specific type of a diet to follow (e.g. low-fat 17, 24 , low-carbohydrate 17, 19 , high carbohydrate and protein 19 , vegetarian 24 ) in addition to restricting their overall energy intake.…”

“…low-fat 17, 24 , low-carbohydrate 17, 19 , high carbohydrate and protein 19 , vegetarian 24 ) in addition to restricting their overall energy intake. The energy deficit also varied from low-calorie diets 15–19, 23–25 to very-low calorie diets 15, 16 . Females outnumbered males in all studies that reported the male: female ratio.…”

Markers of dietary protein intake are associated with successful weight loss in the POUNDS Lost trial

“…The largest single study to date to examine the question of diet composition is the POUNDS Lost trial (12, [40][41][42][43][44][45][46][47][48][49][50][51][52][53][54][55][56]. In this 2-year dietary intervention, 811 individuals who were overweight or obese were randomly assigned in a 2×2 factorial design to one of the four diets with target intakes of 15% (average protein = AP) or 25% protein (high protein = HP) and 20% fat (low fat = LF) or 40% fat (high fat = HF).…”