In a study published yesterday in The Lancet Diabetes & Endocrinology, Ramon Ostrich and colleagues reported on the Spanish PREvención con DIeta MEDiterránea (PREDIMED) randomized controlled trial and on the long-term weight change. In their five-year intervention, nearly 7500 asymptomatic men and women with type 2 diabetes mellitus or more than two cardiovascular risk factors were randomly assigned to receive either one of the two unrestricted-calorie Mediterranean diets (one supplemented with extra-virgin olive oil and one supplemented with nuts) or the control diet which included advice to reduce dietary fat.
The authors reported that although the dietary fat consumption was higher for the participants of the Mediterranean diets, in the five-years follow-up not only was there no weight gain, but they even noticed some evidence of decrease in the weight and waist circumference. The results of the study support the hypothesis that restricting calorie intake of healthy fats does not contribute to bodyweight maintenance.
