Corn was the biggest offender — people who ate it regularly gained an average of two pounds over four years. (Photo: Getty Images)
You’ve heard it many times before: To maintain a healthy weight, exercise regularly and eat more fruits and vegetables.
But new research has found that when it comes to weight loss, not all fruits and vegetables are created equal.
A Harvard study of more than 133,000 people published in the journal PLOS Medicine found that some starchy fruits and vegetables can actually make people gain weight over time.
For the study, researchers analyzed the changes that men and women in the U.S. made in their fruit and vegetable intake over 24 years, as reported in previously conducted dietary questionnaires and self-reported changes in weight. Scientists specifically analyzed several four-year periods for their findings.
What they discovered, after adjusting for changes in other lifestyle habits such as smoking and exercise: People who ate more fruits and several types of vegetables lost an average of half a pound over four years for each daily serving of fruit and a quarter of a pound for every serving of vegetables.
But those who ate starchy vegetables like peas and potatoes actually gained weight. Corn was the biggest offender — people who ate it regularly gained an average of two pounds over four years. Here’s a breakdown of some of their findings:
Vegetables that cause weight gain:
- Corn (2.04 pound weight gain)
- Peas (1.13 pound weight gain)
- Potatoes (0.74 pound weight gain)
- Cabbage (0.4 pound weight gain)
Fruits and vegetables that help with weight loss:
- Berries (1.11 pound weight loss)
- Apples (1.24 pound weight loss)
- Pears (1.24 pound weight loss)
- Cauliflower (1.37 pound weight loss)
- Lettuce (0.52 pound weight loss)
