Eating nuts may not cause weight gain, study finds

Nut group subjects received packaged nuts, approximately 28-56 grams per day, to be included in their regular diets, while those in the control group abstained from the nuts.

A diet rich in walnuts might not lead to weight gain or increase the risk of obesity, according to a study conducted among healthy seniors. The study, published in the journal Nutrients, found that healthy elderly people consuming nearly 300 calories of nuts a day had no negative effect on weight and body composition.

Research from researchers at Loma Linda University (LLU) in the United States also provides insight into how nuts can affect older adults, most of whom are self-reliant and healthy. "There is a widespread misconception that the fats contained in nuts cause weight gain and could therefore lead to problems such as obesity or other weight-related health problems such as heart disease or diabetes, "said Edward Bitok, assistant professor at Loma Linda. University.

"The research, however, shows that nuts are a healthy snack," said Bitok. During the study, healthy seniors – averaging 69 years old and 67% women – were randomly assigned to a nut or control diet.

Nut group subjects received packaged nuts, approximately 28-56 grams per day, to be included in their regular diets, while those in the control group abstained from the nuts. After two years, no significant difference was found between control and walnut groups with respect to body weight or body fat, the researchers said.

"Because of their high energy content, many people believed that nuts caused unwanted weight gain and avoided them altogether," Bitok said. "This study helps us better understand good fats versus bad fats and refutes the idea that nuts are unhealthy and cause weight gain," he said.

The study was a sub-study of the study on Walnuts and Healthy Aging (WAHA), the first major study to check if nuts play a role in healthy aging.

The WAHA study examined the relationship between daily nut consumption and age-related cognitive decline and macular degeneration in the elderly.

Previous studies of nut consumption and body weight have focused on the youngest individuals and for shorter durations, researchers said.