I'm guessing that if you regularly read The Kitchen, you're already fairly health conscience when it comes to what you eat. Still, in the midst of summer cookouts and potlucks articles like this are a great reminder to avoid the potato chips and bring on the hummus instead! Portion sizes have always been my biggest downfall even though the actual foods I eat are 90+% very healthy. I'd love to see more articles like this and also the occasional "healthy alternative" recipes!

@Trish-- the study controlled for all kinds of lifestyle factors, including exercise.

I'm with Trish1980 on this one. My workout regimen is aimed at muscle-building (I'm innately an ectomorph and arguably underweight), and I'm increasingly impatient with "experts" telling me that for maximum health, I should give up red meat for leafy vegetables.

Muscle-building requires a lot of protein in the diet, so I'm wondering if some of the "weight gain" from eating red meat is the normal shift from lighter fat to heavier muscle.

In general, Americans aren't muscled - we are just fat.

Sure, if you are intensely exercising, you're body will certainly convert whatever you eat into energy for the most part. Elite cyclist basically drink protein & sugar. However, while all of the above are true, most long term health studies inform us to steer away from most of the perils found in a meat based diet, and should be weighed into the equation.

Like Trish, I lost a large portion of weight 80 lbs (240 down to 160)- but thru eating a lot of greens, cucumber, tomato, essential oils (avocado & olive oil) and feta in foods like greek salad, etc. I had plenty of energy. I only did yoga one day per week following ankle surgery rehab & over one year gained more lean muscle mass & am just as strong as I've ever been.

Not everyone in the world wants or needs to lose weight.

If you're at a healthy weight and feel good, then keep doing what you're doing. But America has a massive obesity epidemic, and I promise you 99% of the overweight and obese in this country consume at least one of the "gain weight" items and shun at least one of the "lose weight" items-- and largely without exercise to build muscle mass from all those calories. It serves as a good reminder, if not strictly novel information, for those of us who struggle with our weight. And for those who are underweight? Eat some meat and potatoes.

And, Trish, it does list sugary beverages as one of the top 5 weight gainers-- so it looks like you've inadvertently benefited from this list yourself in your weight loss by cutting out sugar.

Honestly, this isn't rocket science. Potato chips and processed meats leading to weight gain versus the opposite occurring if you eat yogurt, nuts and the like-make perfect sense to me.

Well, I am surprised that nuts are on the weight loss list, since they contain quite a lot of fat. Not that I thought they would be on the weight gain list or that I didn't know that nuts are quite healthy, but I thought they wouldn't be on either list since they are healthy but at the same time contain a lot of fat. Maybe they are on the weight loss list because if people eat nuts they eat them to replace worse food (like nuts instead of chips) and so loose weight?
The other items all seem like common sense.

@Trish: I agree with you 100% and I'd love to see that study too. I'm tired of reading article after article about what foods are good/bad, and how one food that was the holy grail 2 months ago is now to be avoided at all costs.

If you burn more calories than you eat, you will lose weight, and vice versa. End of story. If you want to be smart and figure out which foods have less calories per oz or better quality of nutrition, well good for you-you get to feel fuller and have healthier organs!

It just seems like if a weight loss program involves getting your fat ass off the couch, people won't go near it, it always has to be this magical list of foods you can gorge yourself on with no ill effects. Ridiculous!

It's still just association, not a direct link. You could eat yogurt, nuts, fruits, whole grains, and vegetables, but as people have mentioned if you don't limit portion size or exercise, you can still be obese. These items can still be unhealthy too - a diet of sugary yogurt, peanuts, sugary bananas, whole grain pasta and veggies aren't exactly what I would eat to lose weight.
I believe it is misleading the public really, to publish a report that will villainize foods, when it is not addressing the real problem. I believe it's a step in the right direction, but not quite complete.

I doubt that the long-term cause of weight gain in this study was really that American are putting on lots of muscle mass.

Yawn. Who cares?

So, as usual, the moral of this story is if it is man made it'll make you gain weight. Processed food isn't that fabulous for us.

I wouldn't be surprised about nuts... fat is actually important and good for you. It's the sugar that causes a lot of trouble in most of us.

Especially if we're talking about healthy fats!

It seems that we're all in a "body image" sort of trend right now... just because we feel like we don't need to lose weight doesn't mean it's true. During an obesity epidemic such as this one, it's easy to think we're okay just because we look like everyone else. But if everyone else is overweight, our opinions are skewed.

I need to lose weight. I am not as heavy as some of my friends. I wear a size 12/13 which is often deemed to be "average" but I am nearly 40 lbs overweight. Telling myself that I look nice, "healthy", "average", etc certainly isn't doing me any favours!

correlation does not equal causation! Meaning, in this study they found that people who gained weight tended to eat more of the foods listed. Those who lost weight tended to eat more from that list.
It is simply a trend to be aware of, NOT a statement that potatoes make you gain X number of Lbs

Holy crap size 12/13 is "average"??? When was this established, and where the hell was I?
I'm not trying to pick on you melle, I honestly didn't know.

@fulinlin: Eating fat doesn't make you fat.
http://www.marksdailyapple.com/fats/

You can't eat whatever you want just because you exercise. Why be angry at an article/study that merely discusses what types of foods, eat frequently, can contribute to weight gain/weight loss? They aren't trying to ban these foods, just increase awareness.

Maintaining a healthy weight for a lifetime requires both a healthy diet and exercise. Especially once you hit 40, you could exercise daily but if you don't eat well and minimize the indulgences/processed foods, your midsection will show it.

A healthy diet can include eating eggs and meat regularly but will rarely include eating fast foods, processed snacks (cookies/chips) and drinking sodas on a regular basis in larger portion sizes.

Yes.. if you are a construction worker or a farmer, perhaps you can eat whatever you want but if you are the average person who's heaviest exercise includes 1 hour at the gym every day, you need to watch your diet also.

Unlike many of the commenters, I have actually read this paper, which was just published in the New England Journal of Medicine, "Changes in Diet and Lifestyle and Long-Term Weight Gain in Women and Men."

The authors of this paper do not make any sensational claims like 'eating these foods will cause you to be fat or thin.' The media are reporting it with sensational headlines like "10 foods that drive weight gain" , but it is not the point of the paper, which is to look at the diets of normal-weight people over time to see what eating and lifestyle patterns are associated with weight gain with age.

The authors are very careful not to say that correlations = causations.

So everyone who is over-reacting can chill. There is very useful information in the paper if you approach it with an open-mind.

Jess13: "...the average U.S. woman, who's 162.9 pounds and wears a size 14..." LA Times, 3/1/09
Other sources say the same. Although fashion magazines, movies, tv, etc. tell us that size 0-2 is the norm, it simply is not. Also, age is a factor. It is one thing to be svelte (exercise or no exercise) when you're in your twenties and thirties and quite another later in life. The best advice to keep active, eat all food in moderation -- and to use common sense (i.e., don't eat junk food, high fat/sodium/processed food - eat your veggies!).

Apologies - my comment above came out much snottier than I meant it to. I simply suggest that before dismissing the paper, you follow the links to the actual paper and read it for yourself.

Average does not mean 'normal'. Average sizes of Americans are going up because Americans are getting heavier. It also doesn't mean 'healthy' or 'acceptable'. People should pay no attention to where they fit on the histogram, and worry about the qualities of the lifestyle they live as a whole. If you eat a varied diet composed mostly of fresh and natural foods, get regular exercise, sleep well, and are happy and generally unstressed, your body weight and dress/pant size are irrelevant, unless your doctor has told you otherwise.

Personally, I say ignore these studies (which really only tell you the kinds of foods thinner vs. fat people eat, not necessarily what foods make you fat) and focus on common sense.

It's not just calories in < calories out = weightloss IMO, but that's a starting place for sure. I'm experimenting with a low/slow carb diet right now because I've gained so much weight recently and after evaluating my diet, all I seem to eat is carbs (pasta, bread, etc.) though I don't eat many sweets, other than pop (which I've switched out to the occasional diet coke or whatever). I DON'T think carbs are evil or whatever but for me personally, I know I eat waaay too many carbs and not enough proteins and healthy fats (avocado, EVOO, etc.).

Everybody is different, though. It's like the coffee studies--one week it's bad for you, the next it prevents heart disease and dementia or whatever. Just use common sense and eat a balanced diet in moderation, and if you're like me and having a little trouble losing the weight, try experimenting with your diet--just don't do anything too drastic.

And wow, could I say "or whatever" any more? lol

Why are you apologizing, Dulcibella? You're absolutely right - people should read the study and stop treating the news headlines as though it's the original source. What drives me nuts is that the media does not mention that other studies complement this one - such as the David Allison study on obesity:

http://www.newsweek.com/2010/12/10/what-fat-animals-tell-us-about-human-obesity.html

So plastic pollution and a shift in gut microorganisms may play a huge role in the rise of obesity. (And I wonder if that's why yogurt is so high on the list - outcompetes the other gut bacteria?)

From the study:

In a paper to be published in Proceedings of the Royal Society B (for biology), they report that in 23 of the 24—eight species, 20,000-plus animals—the percentage of obese individuals has risen since the 1940s (or since the oldest records they found). The odds of that happening by chance are 8 million to 1. And since neither feral rats nor lab chimps nor any of the others have cut back on phys ed or patronized vending machines more, says Allison, we need to look for explanations beyond the Big Two.

I meant, "from the article". Sorry - I wonder if the study is free online.

I can't believe anyone would dismiss this as a non-issue (yet read the article and find the time to comment on it). Obesity rates are a HUGE burden on our society in terms of health-care costs and life expectancy--not to mention other things like increasing fuel usage on airplanes (which leads to higher airfare for everyone, regardless of sie). And the personal burden of being overweight is one many people would like to shed.

I agree with missmarie that it is likely processed foods that are to blame in many cases. Just in general, eating whole foods that have had as little done to them as possible (and have been transported the least distance) seems to be a good rule to follow.

*Sorry, that's "size," not "sie." But you probably figured that out already.

<em>It seems that we're all in a "body image" sort of trend right now... just because we feel like we don't need to lose weight doesn't mean it's true. During an obesity epidemic such as this one, it's easy to think we're okay just because we look like everyone else</em>

That's a startling generality to apply to everybody who claims not to need to lose weight.

It's possible that because, at 6'1", I lack the self-control to diet myself to a size 0 (I can squeeze into a 2 in some brands, some days), I'm part of an obesity epidemic and kidding myself. But I'd want to see proof that I'm unhealthily heavy.

Hopefully, someday in the future, science will finally uncover the truth about how to be healthy. That, while the specifics are different for everyone, it basically comes down to a healthy diet and exercise.

However, that said, I'm a firm believer that unhealthy foods, while bad for the body, can be good for the soul. No matter how much we diet and exercise, we're going to die from something, someday. A little balance in key.

And finally, all that aside, I really wish someone would post an article on how to gain weight. Not everyone is obese. I'm about 20-30 pounds underweight and have been trying for most of my life to gain.

And that brings me to another pet peeve, why it's taboo to make comments about an overweight person's size, but no one hesitates to say things to the skinny people (I'm so tired of being called "Olive Oyl"). But that's an argument for another day.

food science is junk science.

@mbalavage: When did I say that? I never said that, but normally eating more of a fatty food doesn't equal weight loss. And all the other foods on the weight loss list are foods with not a lot of fat.

I eat a high fat, high animal product diet. And I lose weight eating this way. Lots of it. I had lots of it to lose. No more sugar or starches for me, and I replaced it with coconut milk, steaks, red meat, fish, cheese, cream... I've never felt better. I don't seek exercise and I don't go out of my way to eat vegetables. Some people would say I'm a heart attack waiting to happen. I say it's worth the potential risk to feel better, lower my blood pressure, lower my triglycerides, and overall feel this much better. I love the way I eat and I love not being so heavy.

Before going to any extreme high fat, high animal protein, no carbs, etc one should have blood work done and get advise from a qualified Dietitian most doctors do not know anything about good nutrition I know because I live with one.
I have a family history of high cholesterol & blood pressure mainly from diet but even though I've always eaten pretty healthy and got a lot of exercise I had high cholesterol in my late 20's- early 30's.
Whole grain real food(non processed) is better period.
I became a vegetarian mainly because I could no longer support the practices of cruelty to animals. I do eat some dairy but it comes from local farms where I know they do not treat animals with disrespect. The results of this lifestyle have kept me healthy and I look very young for my age (mid forties) and no longer have have high cholesterol. There is enough protein in my diet without it coming from an animal. I am not trying to sound preachy but I really wanted to point out taking any diet to extreme can be very bad for you and you may face the consequences later in life.
This list is a bit misleading because potatoes can be a great source of good source of Vitamin C, Vitamin B6, Potassium and Manganese its what you do to them and how many you eat like any other food.

Look around you and everyone needs to lose weight. Ask online and everyone is fit and doesn't need to lose an ounce.

I really wish people would stop talking about other people's weight. Oh, right, this obesity epidemic is costing you money so you can say rude things about how I am a lazy pig. Many personal decisions affect health and cause public health crisises (drinking, smoking, tanning, etc.), but people usually dont say too much about them, at least not to the rudeness that fat inspires, because they don't offend their delicate sense of aesthetics.
I know my fat is unpleasing for you to look at, but I am dealing with it in my own way and I suggest you deal with your offended eyes by looking in the mirror all day and telling yourself how gorgeous you are.
I will keep searching for delicious sources of hydration that aren't so sugar laden, and you can certainly continue to say jerky things on the internet, and maybe someday we'll both be happy.

@b77, while I understand your concerns about cruelty and farming and I think they are legitimate, most dietitians are worse than doctors when it comes to their understanding of basic concepts in nutrition. I have had RDs tell me things that were flat out wrong (that the body needs dietary carbohydrates--it most definitely does not). I mean, it is just plain wrong to say things like that and diminishes my respect for them and the American Dietetic Association.

If (a big if) you are insulin resistant and struggle with your weight, whole grain is NOT preferential to meat. Potatoes are NOT better than meat. Whether or not meat is sustainable for the planet is an open question, but whether or not real meat (preferably grass fed) is better for weight loss and blood pressure than a diet full of whole grain is NOT an open question. It's a matter of endocrinology 101.

I am personally quite confident in my choices for myself and my personal health, and I think there is a whole lot of misinformation out there. But whatever, I don't expect to change anyone's opinion in a comment thread.

I lost 10+pounds this winter by eating more nuts and seeds in my diet, and and less sugar/carbs. This change helped control my blood sugar and hunger levels. Before, I was eating high-carb snacks such as pretzels and granola bars, and always hungry.

Also, studies have shown that eating high-fat dairy is associated with LOWER body weight than eating low-fat dairy. The principle being those who ate higher fat dairy were more satisfied, and less likely to overeat.

I think every individual has to listen to his or her own body for what it needs.

Eat less move more. Period.

I need a heavy meal in the evening that includes a large portion of meat (red/fatty meat is OK), lots of veg, and a smaller portion of carbs. This keeps me going for almost the whole of the next day - don't need breakfast or lunch, just my coffee in the morning (with sugar). I have never been on a diet - my BMI is 16-17. So I guess everyone's different.

@sally305 thank you for your comment - one of the only sensible ones on this post.

The world is filled with problems, I don't think anyone here is blaming overweight people for all of our society's faults. That being said, there are opinions all over the spectrum and I agree that obese people put a strain on our healthcare. To say that healthy eating isn't important or that people who suggest it are threatening YOUR personal freedom is insane. No, it's not a good idea to label foods as "good" or "bad" (which many have pointed out, this study isn't doing). Moderation is key.

It seems counterintuitive that some people are saying "This is so obvious, what a waste of time" and others say "I don't really think that calories in < calories out is really the key to losing weight." NO, not everyone knows how to eat healthily or what the keys are to losing weight. This article's existence (and the media stories attached) shouldn't offend anyone. Nobody's forcing you to read it.

Sorry I've ranted and rambled. The last thing I want to say is that Michael Pollan has it right: "Eat food. Not too much. Mostly plants."

Looks like I have to take one of my statements back (sorry!) The Atlantic article has a quote from the Harvard study that says, "The idea that there are no 'good' or 'bad' foods is a myth that needs to be debunked." Oops.

Anyway, I find this very interesting. People have different opinions and interests. Who knew??!

Regarding the comment that "food science is junk science", I would like to correct that to "food science reporting is often junk reporting." These researchers did not forget to consider exercise. This was considered in the study design and the analysis. Learn some basic statistics and read the studies yourself. Does this sound harsh? I'm sorry - but I'm tired of people of dismissing solid science and knowledge because of their lack of understanding and dependence on poor reporting by the mainstream media/blogs. And I think it's a reasonable critique that the world of Public Health hasn't focused on learning how to communicate our findings in a way that is accessible and useful to others.

That said, I love lots of foods that aren't "good" for you because they make me smile. When you are interested in Overall Health, you should consider what else food provides - happiness, satisfaction, time with family/friends, etc. But if the goal is simply weight gain, potato chips are bad foods. Period. Not all calories are equal. There are empty calories and there are calories that are chock full of the vitamins and nutrients that your body needs to function. Good foods and bad foods (for the specific goal of weight gain/loss).

i dont wanna be phaaaat! im banning potato chips.

i like kandyce78 btw. love your spirit and for 'writing it out' - "someday we'll both be happy indeed" - slaun cha !

I wish people would stop putting the emphasis on weight loss, which seems to bring out the judgmental in some folks and the defensive in others. I wish the emphasis were on health. Since changing my diet (pretty radical changes, cutting out almost all meat and minimizing processed foods), I've lost 20 pounds -- but what matters more to me is that I am healthier. I have more energy. I sleep better. My attention span is improved. And honestly, the food is so much tastier! Life's too short to fill yourself with junk.

I'm with oneseahorse...zzzz

I'm living proof that Utz potato chips lead to weight ain.........god, i love Utz chips!

I like that the ad that came up on this story was for Pizza Hut :)

i think that people should really think about what they eat, and @thorndale i think you will find that there are a lot of alternatives nowadays, especially virtual solutions, as personal diets and exercising plans, you can try meal replacements or find support in community meeting online. all of this will not make you ashamed and you will find people with the same problems as you. such a site is http://biggestloserclub.com.au/ so this is only one example:)