Fiber Weight Loss - Researchers say people, who want to lose weight, stand a chance of reaching their goal by consuming about 30 grams of fiber per day than focusing on complex, restrictive dietary plans.

According to a year-long study conducted by researchers from the University of Massachusetts Medical School in Worcester, restrictive diet plans such as reducing saturated fat may not be as beneficial as a 'permissive' plan like a focus on increasing fiber intake.

"We chose dietary fiber because it exerts clinical benefits on several components of metabolic syndrome, including waist circumference, glucose and lipid homeostasis, and insulin control, in addition to body weight and regulation of certain inflammatory markers," said lead author Dr. Yunsheng Ma.

According to the results of the study published in the Annals of Internal Medicine on February 16, 240 obese adults with metabolic syndrome were separated into two groups and studied over time.

One group was allowed to follow the recommended American Heart Association (AHA) diet plan, while the others focused on eating at least 30 grams of fiber per day.

Reports reveal that after a year of observation the people in both groups had lost weight, improved their insulin resistance, blood pressure, blood sugar inflammation and dietary quality.

However, the group that followed the fiber plan of increasing fiber intake lost about four and a half pounds, while the AHA diet group lost nearly six pounds. Additionally, seven people in the fiber group developed diabetes compared to only one person from the AHA group.

"By changing one thing, people in the fiber group were able to improve their diet and lose weight and improve their overall markers for metabolic syndrome," Ma said.

He added that rather than encouraging people to drop the AHA plan, the study revealed that there are alternative ways of losing weight and achieving health.

"I think we have to change the paradigm about recommendations, " Ma said. "Telling people to reduce this or reduce that is just too hard to do."

"[Adding fiber] might be one new idea for how to get people to adhere to a diet."