Pasta May Help You Slim, New Study Finds

In recent years, pasta gained a bad reputation: it will fatten you. This led lots of people to limit its consumption, often as part of some aggressive "do it yourself" diets.

However, now scientists say it can help reduce Body Mass Index (BMI) when part of Mediterranean diet rich in vegetables and olive oil.  The research, which is published in the journal Nutrition and Diabetes, also found those eating pasta had a 'better hip to waist ratio.'

 

The Italian study looked at the diets of 23,000 people from two parts of Italy as part of the Moli-sani and INHES (Italian Nutrition & Health Survey) epidemiological studies. Participants were asked to record everything they ate in a diary and they were then quizzed about their diets by telephone interviewers.

 

The amount of pasta they consumed on a daily basis was standardized and compared to their BMI, waist and hip measurements.

 

Researchers concluded there was no link between eating pasta and gaining weight – it was actually linked to being slimmer.

 

Lead author of the paper, George Pounis from the Department of Epidemiology, I.R.C.C.S. Neuromed in Pozzilli, Italy said: “By analyzing anthropometric data of the participants and their eating habits we have seen that consumption of pasta, contrary to what many think, is not associated with an increase in body weight, rather the opposite.”

 

“Our data shows that enjoying pasta according to individuals' needs contributes to a healthy body mass index, lower waist circumference and better waist-hip ratio.”

 

Licia Iacoviello, Head of the Laboratory of Molecular and Nutritional Epidemiology at Neuromed Institute, added: “In popular views pasta is often considered not adequate when you want to lose weight. And some people completely ban it from their meals.”

 

“In light of this research, we can say that this is not a correct attitude. We're talking about a fundamental component of Italian Mediterranean tradition, and there is no reason to do without it.”

 

“The message emerging from this study… is that Mediterranean diet, consumed in moderation and respecting the variety of all its elements (pasta in the first place), is good to your health.”

 

The researchers found those who ate pasta regularly were also more likely to follow the traditional Mediterranean diet, eating mainly tomatoes, onions, garlic, olive oil, seasoned cheese and rice.

 

But they said the beneficial effect of eating pasta existed regardless of whether the diet was followed faithfully.

 

They did not suggest reasons why pasta could be linked to a lower BMI – but referenced the ongoing debate over whether carbohydrates are good or bad for health.

 

Experts have been torn over whether a high fat, low carbohydrate diet is better for health or whether a low fat, high carbohydrate diet is best.
Dr. Gunter Kuhnle, of the University of Reading, said the study showed it was ”wrong to demonize carbohydrates.”

 

He added: “The data clearly show that consumption of a carbohydrate rich food such as pasta does not have to have an adverse effect on body weight. The results of this study confirm current dietary recommendations and support the recommendation for a balanced diet.”

 

However, Dr. Aseem Malhotra, advisor to the National Obesity Forum, argued the study was limited as it relied on telephone surveys. Although, he explained, the quantity of pasta eaten was important, as those studied ate around 50g to 65g a day – much less than ‘main meal’ portions often eaten in the UK.

 

He added: “Quantity is key. If you're eating lots of vegetables, olive oil and oily fish then having small amounts of pasta as traditional anti pasti (first course) is unlikely to be harmful or contribute to adverse health consequences and obesity.”

 

Dr. Malhotra said it was still important for anyone with insulin resistance or Type 2 diabetes to reduce their starchy carbohydrate intake. The disease, which is linked to obesity, affects more than 3 million Britons and is expected to affect 5 million by 2025 due to rising obesity levels.