| Low-Fat Diet Not So Hard to Swallow | |
The health and disease-prevention benefits of a low-fat diet have made the news for years. Earlier studies have shown individuals following the low-fat way of life reduce their risks of developing heart disease, some forms of cancer, stroke and diabetes.
Donal Corle, author of the current study, explains the correlation between a low-fat diet and improved health:
"Contrary to common perceptions of low-fat diets, participants did not report any detrimental effects of the eating plan on taste, cost, the convenience of shopping for and preparing foods, their overall health assessment and general well-being or satisfaction with life," Corle said.
The participants' diets consisted of 20 percent calories from fat, 18 grams of dietary fiber per 1,000 calories and three-and-a-half servings of fruits and vegetables per 1,000 calories. The participants also kept detailed records of the food they ate and received.
After four years, the participants were asked to rate the effect that the dietary changes had on their lives and their general sense of well-being. The study's investigators said the participants were asked to "focus on changes in self-perceived physical and emotional well-being, satisfaction with diet and self-care."
The investigators concluded that the participants found that their lives were not negatively altered by the change in the long run: "Our findings suggest that a low-fat, high-fiber, fruit and vegetable-enriched eating plan can be adopted without negative impact on overall perception of quality of life."
"In fact, many positive changes in quality of life perceptions were reported by participants," Corle added. "These data provide evidence that adoption of a low-fat, high-fiber, and high fruit-vegetable eating plan can be recommended without fear of negative results."
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"Participants who adopted and maintained the [study] eating plan for four years reported greater confidence in their ability to care for their health, greater belief that food choices would improve health and more awareness of health and nutrition messages."
The study, which is published in the current (August 2001) issue of the Annals of Behavioral Medicine, involved participants who had experienced a polyp in their large bowel. While 194 of these individuals agreed to change their diets to prevent a recurrence, 200 continued their typical eating regimen.
