Yogurt consumption and abdominal obesity reversion in the PREDIMED study

Area of Science:

• Gerontology
• Nutritional Science
• Cardiovascular Health

Background:

• The relationship between yogurt intake and obesity remains inconclusive.
• Abdominal obesity is a significant health concern, particularly in elderly populations.
• Previous studies have not clearly defined yogurt's role in weight management.

Purpose of the Study:

• To prospectively investigate the association between yogurt consumption and abdominal obesity.
• To evaluate yogurt's impact on waist circumference changes in the elderly.
• To determine if yogurt intake influences the reversion of abdominal obesity status.

Main Methods:

• A prospective study of 4545 elderly individuals at high cardiovascular risk.
• Assessment of total, whole-fat, and low-fat yogurt consumption via food frequency questionnaires.
• Analysis using generalized estimating equations and logistic regression models.

Main Results:

• Whole-fat yogurt consumption showed a trend towards decreasing waist circumference (p=0.05).
• Higher quintiles of whole-fat yogurt intake were associated with increased odds of abdominal obesity reversion.
• Total yogurt consumption did not show significant associations with abdominal obesity reversion or waist circumference.

Conclusions:

• Whole-fat yogurt consumption, but not total yogurt, is associated with beneficial changes in waist circumference.
• Consumption of whole-fat yogurt may increase the probability of reverting abdominal obesity in the elderly.
• Whole-fat yogurt appears to have positive effects on abdominal obesity management in at-risk elderly individuals.