title: The effects of an energy density prescription on diet quality and weight loss: a pilot randomized controlled trial.
abstract: Dietary goals specific for lowering energy density (ED) may promote a nutrient-dense diet and weight loss. This pilot study examined the effects of ED-based diet prescriptions on diet quality and weight loss during a 3-month behavior-based obesity intervention conducted in a research setting. Forty-four adults with overweight/obesity (age 52.1±7.6 years, body mass index [BMI; calculated as kg/m(2)] 34.8±4.8, 81.8% women, and 93.2% white) were recruited between December 2009 and March 2010 and randomly assigned to: Low ED (consume ≥10 foods ≤1.0 kcal/g dietary ED and ≤2 foods ≥3.0 kcal/g dietary ED per day (n=15); Low-Energy, Low-Fat (1,200 to 1,500 kcal/day, ≤30% energy from fat (n=15); or Low-ED, Low-Energy, Low-Fat (n=14). Participants received 12 weekly group sessions led by a research interventionist. Dietary intake (measured by 3-day food records), self-reported physical activity, and weight were measured at baseline and 3 months. Intent-to-treat analyses showed all conditions reduced dietary ED and energy intake (P<0.001). Low-ED and Low-ED, Low-Energy, Low-Fat interventions increased fruit consumption (P<0.05). All conditions increased self-reported physical activity (P<0.001), with no difference between conditions. Although participants in all conditions lost weight (P<0.001), those in the Low-ED condition lost more (P<0.05) than those in the Low-ED, Low-Energy, Low-Fat condition (Low-ED -20.5±7.0 lb, Low-Energy, Low-Fat -16.9±10.1 lb, and Low-ED, Low-Energy, Low-Fat -12.5± 6.5 lb). A diet prescription that lowered ED increased fruit intake and enhanced weight loss compared with other weight loss prescriptions.
authors.forename: Hollie A
authors.initials: HA
authors.lastname: Raynor
authors.forename: Shannon M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Looney
authors.forename: Elizabeth Anderson
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Steeves
authors.forename: Marsha
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Spence
authors.forename: Amy A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Gorin
mesh_terms: D015992:Body Mass Index; D004038:Diet, Reducing / Q000592:standards; D004041:Dietary Fats / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D002149:Energy Intake; D005260:Female; D005638:Fruit; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009753:Nutritive Value; D009765:Obesity / Q000178:diet therapy*; D010865:Pilot Projects; D015431:Weight Loss / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D004041:Dietary Fats