Avocados May Help With Weight Loss

Loma Linda University Health recently released a study that suggests eating half an avocado at lunch can help overweight adults feel fuller for a longer period of time than those adults who do not eat half an avocado. The study was published in the Nutrition Journal and was funded by The Hass Avocado Board and could be meaningful for people who are trying to better manage their caloric intake. “Avocados are a very popular and delicious fruit, and from the results of our study, may also be helpful for people who are looking to better manage their weight,” said Dr. Joan Sabate, professor of nutrition at Loma Linda University School of Public Health and principal investigator of the study. The study examined 26 healthy overweight and moderately obese adults, with ages from 25 to 65 years and Body Mass Index (BMI) greater than 25 but less than 35. Participants ate lunches with or without avocados, depending on where they were at within the study’s timeframe. The results showed that adding avocado to a lunch meal caused a 23 percent increase in satisfaction and a 28 percent decreased desire to eat over a subsequent five-hour period as compared with the avocado-free control lunch meal. Over a three-hour period, adding avocado to a lunch meal yielded a 26 percent increase in satisfaction and 40 percent decreased desire to eat. The changes in measurements of appetite sensation tended to taper off after five hours. Something the studies warn, however, is that the avocado contained an additional 12 kcal, which could explain why subjects felt an increase in satisfaction and a decrease in the desire to eat. Aside from satiety, the study also sought to examine glucose and insulin response, and caloric intake among the subjects. The study recommended further studies on the impact on avocados on glucose and insulin response. The study may be read in its entirety at www.nutritionj.com/content/12/1/155