Life

Eating more nuts could be the key to keeping trim as humans get older

A daily half serving increase of walnuts was linked to a 15 per cent lower risk of obesity
A daily half serving increase of walnuts was linked to a 15 per cent lower risk of obesity A daily half serving increase of walnuts was linked to a 15 per cent lower risk of obesity

EATING more nuts may slow weight gain in people as they get older, new research has found. Replacing an unhealthy snack with just half a daily serving of nuts is linked to less weight gain and a lower risk of obesity, a long-term study has found.

Researchers from the US believe the simple intervention could slow down the progressive weight gain that often accompanies ageing.

Nuts are rich in healthy unsaturated fats, vitamins, minerals and fibre, but are not often consumed for weight loss because they are calorie dense.

But there is evidence to suggest that quality of diet as well as counting calories plays a role in weight management.

Researchers from Harvard University and Harvard Medical School analysed information on weight, diet and physical activity in three groups of people, almost 300,000 people in total.

Increasing consumption of any type of nut was linked to less long-term weight gain and a lower risk of becoming obese. Increasing nut consumption by half a serving a day was associated with a lower risk of putting on two or more kilos over any four-year period; substituting sweet snacks with half a serving of nuts was associated with staving off weight gain of between 0.41 and 0.70kg.

A daily half serving increase of walnuts was linked to a 15 per cent lower risk of obesity.

The researchers suggest that chewing nuts takes more effort than eating fast food, while the high fibre content can make people feel full for longer. Nut fibre binds well to fat in the gut, meaning more calories are excreted.

The study is published in the online journal BMJ Nutrition, Prevention & Health.

Jemma Crew (PA)