Daniel Lubetzky

by Kim Walker on behalf of Daniel Lubetzky

A recent study conducted by Dr. David Katz of Yale University proves once again that KIND bars are in fact as kind to your body as they are to your taste buds!

Published: April 27, 2010

New Study Suggests Not All Snacking Causes Weight Gain

DERBY, Conn., April 27 /PRNewswire/ — A study just completed by the Yale-Griffin Prevention Research Center indicates that when it comes to effects on weight, not all snacking is created equal. In contrast to some recent studies linking snacking to weight gain, this study, which provided two KIND Fruit & Nut bars per day as snacks to 94 overweight adults, found that no weight gain occurred.

"A pilot study of this same intervention actually suggested that two daily KIND bars might lead to weight loss," said Dr. David L. Katz, Director of Yale’s Prevention Research Center, and principal investigator of the current trial. "We didn’t see that, but we saw no weight gain at all either – despite the fact that we added the KIND bars to baseline diets and didn’t provide any particular guidance to the study participants on how to make room for these calories."

Study participants were assigned to either the control group or the experimental group. Members of the control group were advised to follow their normal daily diet while members of the experimental group where asked to add two KIND Fruit & Nut bars to their habitual diet for the duration of eight weeks. At the culmination of the study, Katz and his team of researchers found that members of both groups successfully maintained their weight, body mass index (BMI), and waist size – despite the fact that the experimental group had added approximately 350 calories to their daily diet.

"We know that high-calorie, low-nutrient snacks can contribute to weight gain and poor health," said Katz. "Our hypothesis was that snack foods that are highly nutritious and filling could help control appetite, reduce consumption of other foods, and add nutrients to the diet without adding calories. That, apparently, is just what happened."

Recent reports from Health Affairs estimate that our nation’s youth are eating an average of three snacks per day, lending greater significance to the findings from this study. This trending toward increased snacking occasions gives rise to the need for people to educate themselves on what constitutes a healthy snack.

"Our nation’s search to find a cause for the obesity epidemic has led many to fault snacking," explains Dr. Katz, Center Director of PRC. "However these study results demonstrate that snacking cannot be generally categorized. Instead, these results substantiate the theory that snacking on nutritious foods packed with protein and fiber can help to control appetite and prevent overeating. Further, snacking on healthy foods in between meals can help to achieve daily recommended levels of valuable vitamins and nutrients."

"We are pleased with the findings from Dr. Katz’s study as it supports the fact that KIND bars are a nutritionally beneficial part of a healthy and balanced lifestyle," explained Daniel Lubetzky, founder and CEO of KIND Healthy Snacks.

The study was partially funded by KIND, LLC.

About Dr. David Katz

David L. Katz MD, MPH, FACPM, FACP is an Associate Professor, adjunct, of Public Health at the Yale University School of Public Health and directs the Yale Griffin Prevention Research Center, which he co-founded in 1998. For more information, visit www.davidkatzmd.com.