Lose weight by eating rice? Consuming more of the whole grain could help reduce global obesity levels, study finds
- A modest increase in rice consumption of 50g per day per person could reduce the prevalence of obesity by one per cent, study found
- Researchers also found that gel capsules that part-fill the stomach before a meal may help people lose weight and keep it off
Recent studies presented at the European Congress on Obesity, in Scotland, in May, have highlighted two simple ways to ward off obesity. One is a novel “medical device” known as a hydrogel capsule, the other an age-old whole grain commonly found in Asian diets – rice.
The congress was told that people following a Japanese or Asian-style diet based on rice were less likely to be obese than those living in countries where rice consumption was low.
Researchers found low-carbohydrate diets – which limit rice – are a popular weight-loss strategy in developed countries but the effect of rice on obesity has been unclear.
They looked at rice consumption in terms of grams per day per person and calorie intake in 136 countries. They also looked at data on body mass index (BMI).
In the United Kingdom, people were found to consume just 19g of rice a day, below dozens of other countries including Canada, Spain and the United States.
The researchers calculated that even a modest increase in rice consumption of 50g (1.7oz) per day per person could reduce the worldwide prevalence of obesity by one per cent (from 650 million adults to 643.5 million).