The Effect of Eating Pulses for 8 Weeks on Satiety and Metabolic Syndrome Risk Factors in Overweight Individuals

In 2004, almost 60% of adult Canadians were overweight or obese. This is a serious health concern due to the burden of common health risks associated with being overweight and obese, including increased blood sugar, blood lipids and blood pressure. Together these risks are known as metabolic syndrome. Obesity, the most common nutrition problem in Canada, can in many cases be treated through changes in our diet (what we eat and/or how much we eat). Pulses (beans, chickpeas, lentils and peas) when eaten on a regular basis may result in decreased health risks associated with being overweight and obese. The purpose of this study is to find out whether eating pulses (5 cups per week) results in improvements in metabolic syndrome risk factors. We also want to determine whether the consumption of pulses alters the levels of satiety hormones (hormones that make us feel hungry or full) in the blood. This study will have 50 participants.