Turning another year older doesn’t mean you have to gain another pound. Yes, we all know that smaller portions and more time on the treadmill will help keep unwanted weight at bay. But a team of Harvard researchers got more specific and found which specific foods are making us fat.
If Wavy Lays are your snack of choice, you may want to grab a Kleenex now, because you’re not going to like this news.
In a study to determine why the average adult gains that pound a year, the Harvard team tracked 120,000 male and female participants in three studies. Every four years, the researchers evaluated the connections between people’s lifestyle and their weight. The study found that on average, participants gained about 3.35 pounds over a four-year span—almost 17 pounds in 20 years. When the three studies started, the participants’ ages were 37, 50 and 52.
Upon closer inspection, the team discovered the top five foods that cause the most weight gain. The list included: potato chips (yes, those Wavy Lays) other potatoes, sugar-sweetened drinks, unprocessed red meats and processed red meats.
If you’re looking to keep the weight off, here is a list of five foods that are associated with less weight gain, and even weight loss: vegetables, whole grains, fruits, nuts and yogurt. That’s not so bad.
