Relation of food and nutrient intakes to body mass in the special intervention and usual care groups in the Multiple Risk Factor Intervention Trial

This chapter summarizes weight and body mass index findings of the Multiple Risk Factor Intervention Trial and then focuses on relations of food group and nutrient intakes to weight change during follow-up. Results were qualitatively similar for the special intervention (SI) and usual care groups. Weight change was related both to dietary composition averaged over follow-up recalls and to changes from baseline. Greater weight loss compared with little change or gain was related to greater reductions from baseline and lower percentages of energy reported at follow-up from refined sucrose, total fat, and saturated and monounsaturated fatty acids. Greater weight loss was also associated with greater reductions in and lower intakes of cholesterol and energy. In both groups, these patterns reflected lower percentages of energy from medium-fat dairy products, eggs, highly saturated visible fats, crackers and snacks, refined sugars and sweets, and additionally for SI men, lower percentages of energy from high-fat meats, dairy products, and baked goods and desserts. In both groups weight loss was related to increased or higher percentages of energy from total and non-sucrose simple carbohydrates, and to fiber intake, and for SI men, to higher percentages of energy from starch. These nutrient patterns involved higher percentages of energy from low-fat dairy products, breads and cereals, fruit, and vegetables, and for SI men, from low-fat baked goods and desserts. Overall, substantial weight loss was associated with a diet of lower energy density and with higher intakes of several essential micronutrients.