The Lean Living Study

This study investigates whether walnuts help to promote weight loss, associated with increased meal satiety and satisfaction, in 100 overweight and obese men and women who are participating in a 6-month behavioral weight loss intervention. Participants will be randomly assigned to a walnut-enriched reduced-calorie diet or a standard reduced-calorie diet. Body weight, risk factors for cardiovascular disease, and self-reported feelings relevant to satiety and appetite will be measured at baseline and 3- and 6-month follow-up. Also, the response of gastrointestinal tract hormones following meals with or without walnuts will be measured in a subset of study participants (n=20). Results from this study will contribute to understanding the role of nuts in weight control, including further knowledge of the mechanisms, and will expand knowledge of how nuts in the diet may contribute to the prevention and management of obesity.