Can your predict your future figure?

• Position: Your Life - Brief Article

Do you wonder what size jeans you will be wearing in 10 years? Results of a Boston (Mass.) University study say you can predict if you will gain weight in the next decade based on the foods you eat now.

Researchers analyzed the dietary patterns of more than 700 women during a 12-year period, categorizing their eating habits into one of five groups: Heart Healthy, Light Eating, Wine and Moderate Eating, High Fat, and Empty Calorie. Those in the Heart Healthy group--who ate more servings of nutrient-dense fruits, vegetables, and lean foods--were least likely to become overweight (24%). Their diets were lower in total fat, saturated fat, and cholesterol and higher in carbohydrate and fiber.

"This eating plan most closely follows the Food Guide Pyramid and is known to promote lifelong health," explains Tampa, Fla.-based registered dietitian and American Dietetic Association spokesperson Cynthia Sass. "It is effective for the prevention and treatment of obesity as well as other nutrition-related diseases. While there is no one-size-fits-all approach to healthful eating, this study clearly indicates that what you eat now can have a big impact on your future health...