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Preventing weight gain with calorie‐labeling
Author(s) -
Nikolaou Charoula Konstantia,
Hankey Catherine Ruth,
Lean Michael Ernest John
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
obesity
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.438
H-Index - 199
eISSN - 1930-739X
pISSN - 1930-7381
DOI - 10.1002/oby.20885
Subject(s) - weight gain , medicine , calorie , obesity , weight loss , weight change , young adult , low calorie diet , body weight , gerontology , demography , pediatrics , sociology
Objective Calorie‐labeling has been suggested as an anti‐obesity measure but there is no evidence for its effect, to date. Early adulthood is a critical life‐cycle period for unwanted weight gain and obesity development. This study examined whether providing calorie information would help young adults to avoid weight gain. Methods Using a pragmatic interrupted time‐series study design, weight changes over 36 weeks were reported among two year‐groups, each of 120 young adults, similar in age, gender, and ethnicity, living in fully‐catered accommodation. Year 1: subjects were observed without calorie‐labeling, apart from a 5‐week pilot. Year 2: calorie‐labeling was present prominently and consistently at main meals for 30 of the 36 weeks. Results Mean weight changes over 36 weeks, per protocol, were +3.5 kg (95% CI = 2.8‐4.1 kg) ( n = 64) in Year 1 and −0.15 kg (95% CI = −0.7‐0.3 kg) ( n = 87) in Year 2. Weight changes were significantly different between years, for males and females (both P < 0.001). Intention‐to‐treat analysis showed similar results. Relative Risk for weight gain in Year 2, compared to Year 1, was 0.5 ( P < 0·0001). Conclusions Calorie‐labeling was associated with a 3.5 kg less weight gain, representing a low‐cost “nudging” approach to combat the rapid weight gain seen in young adults.