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Body Mass Index

The Effects of Peanuts on Body Mass Index

Our Body Mass Index, or BMI, is a number that reflects our body weight after adjusting for height, measured by dividing your weight (in kilograms) by the square of your height (in meters). It’s used as a quick, inexpensive method of determining someone’s weight category, like “healthy”, “overweight” or “obese”. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, a high BMI can put you at higher risk for a number of diseases and health conditions. Lower BMIs, meanwhile, can be an indicator that you’re at a lower risk.

The numerous findings showing that peanuts help you manage your weight all fall in line with population studies showing that people who eat peanuts and peanut butter tend to have a lower Body Mass Index (BMI).

  • The Deep South Network study showed that overweight and obese women who ate peanuts and nuts had  lower BMI values at the end of a two-year weight loss intervention than those who didn’t.
  • After the 5 year EPIC-PANACEA study, it was found that a higher intake of nuts, including peanuts, resulted in a lower risk for being overweight or obese.
  • The Adventist Health Study showed that those who ate more peanuts and nuts were less obese.
  • The Nurses’ Health Study showed that women who ate more peanuts and nuts were leaner.
  • The Continuing Survey of Food Intakes by Individuals showed that children and adults who reported eating peanuts and nuts had lower BMIs.

When researchers at Purdue University conducted the first human study to explain this evidence, they gave participants peanuts as a substitution for other calories in the diet or added them to the diet as additional calories. The researchers discovered that people naturally decreased what they ate at other times of the day when eating peanuts. This may be why there is little or no change in body weight with peanut consumption.

The study came up with some suggestions on how you can lower your BMI. Although the research is still emerging as to why peanut eaters seem to know how to reduce their BMI and have more control over their weight in general, different mechanisms are probably contributing to this effect. The great thing is, we don’t have to wait to figure it out; we can still enjoy the benefits of eating peanuts, knowing that, regardless of the cause, they’re helping us lose weight and keep it off.

The fact that eating peanuts reduces hunger may contribute to a lower Body Mass Index. In addition to containing protein and fiber that promote fullness, peanuts have a low glycemic index. This means that your blood sugar may not shoot up and dip down, which can cause an increased appetite.

Research also suggests peanuts may not be fully digested by the body, so some of the peanut may pass through your system without being absorbed.

In combination with these other factors, research shows that peanuts increase energy expenditure. One study in which participants ate 3 ounces of peanuts daily for 19 weeks showed an 11% increase in resting energy expenditure. This was confirmed in a second study and was also found to be true among obese individuals.

Although the research is still emerging as to why peanut eaters tend to weigh less and have more control over their weight in general, different mechanisms are probably contributing to this effect. The great thing is, we don’t have to wait to figure it out; we can still enjoy the benefits of eating peanuts, knowing that, regardless of the cause, they’re helping us lose weight and keep it off.

While BMI can be helpful in identifying those with higher risk for certain conditions and diseases, it’s important to remember that no one measurement can tell the full story, and that what’s deemed “healthy” can vary based on a variety of factors—including age, athletic activity and gender.

But, if you’re trying to lower your BMI, looking for a healthy way to snack, or just want help burn some extra calories, peanuts and peanut butter are proving to be more than worthy of your (snack) time.

Last reviewed: May 2019

Sources

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