Pasta for Weight Loss Diet: Italian Study Says Noodles Help Reduce BMI

Scientists Found Pasta and Noodles to be Non-fattening

By Mariel Peralta, CP Contributor Tuesday, July 05, 2016

A new Italian study revealed that consumption of pasta and noodles can actually lower body mass index (BMI) and can diminish obesity risk and help lose weight.

Pasta Diet for Weight Loss?
Researchers at Istituto Neurologico Mediterraneo Neuromed (IRCCS) found that people who consume pasta regularly are less likely to be overweight or obese. Those who eat it more have lower BMI and average waist-to-hip ration. They conducted their findings by surveying more than 20,000 people. The pasta study was detailed on the journal Nutrition and Diabetes.

While it is widely believed that white pasta is associated with overweight and obesity, researchers found that it does not negatively impact the weight. In fact, the attitude of banning pasta from a weight loss diet may be detrimental instead. Researcher George Pounis said that pasta does not contribute to a person's obesity as previously thought.

"Our data shows that enjoying pasta according to individuals' needs contributes to a healthy body mass index, lower waist circumference and better waist-hip ratio," Pounis stated.

Pasta in Moderation
The study does not mean that it would be healthy to only eat pasta for weight loss. Dr. Licia Iacoviello of IRCCS noted that pasta shouldn't be villified as an enemy in the food pyramid. They found in their research that eating it helped weight loss hopefuls get on track in their diet.

Like many foods, pasta has to be eaten in moderation. The researchers did not say how much pasta is enough, but one thing is for sure, consuming too much can cause negative health consequences. Following the Mediterranean style where all kinds of foods are eaten in moderation can be considered a step in the right direction.

Study Methodology Biased?
Telegraph wrote that the researchers conducted their study on people who ate a lot of pasta but also followed the traditional "Mediterranean diet." In short, most of the respondents were from a specified population.

However, they were able to find out that pasta intake could indicate what kind of diet a person is following. The study also revealed that completely ruling out carbohydrates is incorrect as pasta is mainly made of the nutrient, but it is not associated with overweight or obesity.

Do you believe that pasta and other carbohydrate-rich foods should not be completely ruled out in certain weight loss diets? Let us know your opinion below.