title: Increased fruit and vegetable intake has no discernible effect on weight loss: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  A common dietary recommendation for weight loss, especially in lay public outlets, is to eat more fruit and vegetables (F/Vs). Without a compensatory reduction in total energy intake, significant weight loss would be unlikely.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  We aimed to synthesize the best available evidence on the effectiveness of the general recommendation to eat more F/Vs for weight loss or the prevention of weight gain.
  
  
  METHODS
  We searched multiple databases for human randomized controlled trials that evaluated the effect of increased F/V intake on body weight. Inclusion criteria were as follows: ≥15 subjects/ treatment arm, ≥8-wk intervention, a stated primary or secondary outcome of body weight, the stated goal of the intervention was weight or fat loss or the prevention of weight or fat gain, and food intake provided or prescribed was of a variety of F/Vs that remained minimally processed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Two studies met all criteria; 5 other studies met all criteria but one. The primary analysis indicated an effect size of weight change (outcome of interest) from baseline [standardized mean difference (SMD) for studies that met all criteria] of -0.16 (95% CI: -0.78, 0.46) (P = 0.60). The SMD for 7 studies that met all or most criteria was 0.04 (95% CI: -0.10, 0.17) (P = 0.62).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Studies to date do not support the proposition that recommendations to increase F/V intake or the home delivery or provision of F/Vs will cause weight loss. On the basis of the current evidence, recommending increased F/V consumption to treat or prevent obesity without explicitly combining this approach with efforts to reduce intake of other energy sources is unwarranted. This systematic review and meta-analysis was registered at http://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO/ as CRD42013004688.
authors: From the Office of Energetics, School of Public Health (KAK, AWB, and DBA), the Nutrition Obesity Research Center (KAK, AWB, MMBB, JMS, and DBA), the Department of Nutrition, School of Health Professions (MMBB), and the Division of Preventive Medicine, School of Medicine (JMS), University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, and the Department of Nutrition Science, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN (RDM).
authors: Kathryn A
authors: KA
authors: Kaiser
authors: From the Office of Energetics, School of Public Health (KAK, AWB, and DBA), the Nutrition Obesity Research Center (KAK, AWB, MMBB, JMS, and DBA), the Department of Nutrition, School of Health Professions (MMBB), and the Division of Preventive Medicine, School of Medicine (JMS), University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, and the Department of Nutrition Science, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN (RDM).
authors: Andrew W
authors: AW
authors: Brown
authors: From the Office of Energetics, School of Public Health (KAK, AWB, and DBA), the Nutrition Obesity Research Center (KAK, AWB, MMBB, JMS, and DBA), the Department of Nutrition, School of Health Professions (MMBB), and the Division of Preventive Medicine, School of Medicine (JMS), University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, and the Department of Nutrition Science, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN (RDM).
authors: Michelle M
authors: MM
authors: Bohan Brown
authors: From the Office of Energetics, School of Public Health (KAK, AWB, and DBA), the Nutrition Obesity Research Center (KAK, AWB, MMBB, JMS, and DBA), the Department of Nutrition, School of Health Professions (MMBB), and the Division of Preventive Medicine, School of Medicine (JMS), University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, and the Department of Nutrition Science, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN (RDM).
authors: James M
authors: JM
authors: Shikany
authors: From the Office of Energetics, School of Public Health (KAK, AWB, and DBA), the Nutrition Obesity Research Center (KAK, AWB, MMBB, JMS, and DBA), the Department of Nutrition, School of Health Professions (MMBB), and the Division of Preventive Medicine, School of Medicine (JMS), University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, and the Department of Nutrition Science, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN (RDM).
authors: Richard D
authors: RD
authors: Mattes
authors: From the Office of Energetics, School of Public Health (KAK, AWB, and DBA), the Nutrition Obesity Research Center (KAK, AWB, MMBB, JMS, and DBA), the Department of Nutrition, School of Health Professions (MMBB), and the Division of Preventive Medicine, School of Medicine (JMS), University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, and the Department of Nutrition Science, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN (RDM).
authors: David B
authors: DB
authors: Allison
mesh_terms: D004038:Diet, Reducing; D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine; D005638:Fruit; D006801:Humans; D050177:Overweight / Q000178:diet therapy* / Q000517:prevention & control; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D014675:Vegetables; D015431:Weight Loss