Eating pasta may help with weight loss, study finds

There’s no need to ditch the spaghetti for a healthy diet

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Carbohydrates are universally adored, with scientists recently discovering an apparent “sixth taste” that can explain our love of the food group.

While some people may try to steer clear from eating too many carbs when attempting to lose weight, a new study has revealed that eating pasta as part of a healthy diet could actually help you shed a few extra pounds if needs be.

In the study published in BMJ Open, the impact of pasta consumption on the body weight and BMI of 2,488 participants was assessed from data collated by 30 randomised control trials.

The individuals who took part in the study ate approximately 3.3 servings of pasta a week instead of other carbohydrates, while also maintaining a low-GI (low-glycaemic) diet.

Pasta typically has a low-GI, meaning that it increases your blood sugar levels at a slower rate than other refined carbohydrates, such as white bread.

The researchers from St Michael’s Hospital in Toronto found that those who ate pasta as part of a low-GI diet actually ended up losing a small amount of weight.

“The study found that that pasta didn’t contribute to weight gain or increase in body fat,” said Dr John Sievenpiper, consultant physician at St Michael’s Hospital and lead author of the study.

“In fact analysis actually showed a small weight loss.

“So contrary to concerns, perhaps pasta can be part of a healthy diet such as low-GI diet.

“In weighing the evidence, we can now say with some confidence that pasta does not have an adverse effect on body weight outcomes when it is consumed as part of a healthy dietary pattern.”

As Dr Sievenpiper clearly outlined, the participants of the study recorded weight loss when consuming pasta in addition to other low-GI foods.

The researchers concluded that further research is necessary in order to determine whether eating pasta can have the same effect when combined with other healthy diets.

According to top nutritionist Rhiannon Lambert, the notion that people need to cut carbs when trying to lose weight is completely misguided.

“If you want to lose weight, look at portion control, a diet that is tailored to your needs, and up your exercise so that you’re burning off more calories than you eat,” she advised. “It’s that simple."