[Role of nutritional factors in the weight management]

Obesity has become one of the most serious public health problems affecting both the developed and developing countries today. Obesity develops as a result of the positive energy balance. Therefore the strategies in obesity prevention and management are targeted on the energy balance. Dietary weight management should be focussed on the reduction of fat intake as fat among the three macronutrients exhibits the highest energy density and the lowest satiating properties as well as the lowest postprandial thermogenesis. Although carbohydrate does not play such an important role in the pathogenesis of obesity as fat, the intake of simple carbohydrate should be reduced during the treatment of obesity and metabolic syndrome. Different metabolic consequences of the intake of individual fatty acids (polyunsaturated and n-3 fatty acids vs. saturated fatty acids), individual carbohydrates (low vs. high glycaemic index carbohydrates) and fibre should be considered during the weight management. Dietary protein positively affects the outcome of weight management through the enhancement of postprandial satiety and thermogenesis. Recently a role of consumption of calcium, phosphate and vitamin A in the body weight regulation and weight management has been also studied.