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Current Theories Regarding the Influence of Diet and the Control of Obesity

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Nutritional Health

Part of the book series: Nutrition ◊ and ◊ Health ((NH))

Abstract

Current theories regarding the role of diet in human obesity have evolved around the macronutrient composition of diet and its effect on weight maintenance. Obesity is the result of long-term positive energy balance caused by intake exceeding expenditure. Fat, protein, and carbohydrate contribute to the total energy intake. Of these, dietary fat is the one most strongly implicated in the development of obesity. In this chapter, we review the role of dietary macronutrient composition, particularly dietary fat content, in the regulation of food intake and body weight. Understanding this role is necessary for answering two important questions: (1) Is the reduction in energy intake through a decrease in fat intake effective in reducing the very high prevalence of obesity in industrialized countries where diet is usually high in fat? (2) Can obesity be prevented in the populations where diet is traditionally low in fat by stopping the progression toward a high-fat diet?

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Authors
  1. Marie K. Richards
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  2. Sahasporn Paeratakul
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  3. George A. Bray
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  4. Barry M. Popkin
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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Departments of Exercise and Sport Science/Health Education, University of Wisconsin-La Crosse, La Crosse, WI, USA

    Ted Wilson PhD

  2. Centre for Science, Athabasca University, Athabasca, Alberta, Canada

    Norman J. Temple PhD

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Richards, M.K., Paeratakul, S., Bray, G.A., Popkin, B.M. (2001). Current Theories Regarding the Influence of Diet and the Control of Obesity. In: Wilson, T., Temple, N.J. (eds) Nutritional Health. Nutrition ◊ and ◊ Health. Humana Press, Totowa, NJ. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-59259-226-5_10

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-59259-226-5_10

  • Publisher Name: Humana Press, Totowa, NJ

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