Substitution of saturated with monounsaturated fat in a 4-week diet affects body weight and composition of overweight and obese men

• Date posted:  01/01/2003 
• Posted In:
• Mixed Nuts,
• Body Weight/Satiety,

Piers, L.S., K.Z. Walker, R.M. Stoney, M.J. Soares, K. O’Dea, 2003.  Substitution of saturated with monounsaturated fat in a 4-week diet affects body weight and composition of overweight and obese men. British Journal of Obesity. 90:717-27.

This randomized crossover study looked at whether or not substituting saturated fat (SF) with monounsaturated fat (MUFA) effects body weight and composition.  Eight overweight or obese men followed two diets for four weeks each.  The MUFA diet included nuts, olive oil and avocado, while the SFA diet was rich in milk, butter, cream, cheese and fatty meat.  At the end of the study the men had lost more weight and fat mass on the MUFA diet than on the SFA diet.  The researchers concluded that substituting SFA with unsaturated fats, particularly MUFA, can result in a small but significant loss of body weight and fat mass without a significant change in fat intake or total calories.