Talk to the Veterans Crisis Line now
U.S. flag
An official website of the United States government

VA Health Systems Research

Go to the VA ORD website
Go to the QUERI website

HSR Citation Abstract

Search | Search by Center | Search by Source | Keywords in Title

Randomized Comparative Effectiveness Trial of 2 Federally Recommended Strategies to Reduce Excess Body Fat in Overweight, Low-Income Patients: MyPlate.gov vs Calorie Counting.

McCarthy WJ, Rico M, Chandler M, Herman DR, Chang C, Belin TR, Love S, Ramirez E, Gelberg L. Randomized Comparative Effectiveness Trial of 2 Federally Recommended Strategies to Reduce Excess Body Fat in Overweight, Low-Income Patients: MyPlate.gov vs Calorie Counting. Annals of Family Medicine. 2023 Jan 1; 21(3):213-219.

Dimensions for VA is a web-based tool available to VA staff that enables detailed searches of published research and research projects.

If you have VA-Intranet access, click here for more information vaww.hsrd.research.va.gov/dimensions/

VA staff not currently on the VA network can access Dimensions by registering for an account using their VA email address.
   Search Dimensions for VA for this citation
* Don't have VA-internal network access or a VA email address? Try searching the free-to-the-public version of Dimensions



Abstract:

PURPOSE: Since 2011, US authorities have supported the following 2 approaches to healthier body fat composition: the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention National Diabetes Prevention Program's calorie counting (CC) approach and the US Department of Agriculture's MyPlate (adherence to federal nutrition guidelines). The purpose of this study was to compare the effect of CC vs MyPlate approaches on satiety/satiation and on achieving healthier body fat composition among primary care patients. METHODS: We conducted a randomized controlled trial comparing the CC and MyPlate approaches from 2015 to 2017. The adult participants were overweight, of low income, and were mostly Latine (n = 261). For both approaches, community health workers conducted 2 home education visits, 2 group education sessions, and 7 telephone coaching calls over a period of 6 months. Satiation and satiety were the primary patient-centered outcome measures. Waist circumference and body weight were the primary anthropometric measures. Measures were assessed at baseline, 6 months, and 12 months. RESULTS: Satiation and satiety scores increased for both groups. Waist circumference was significantly decreased in both groups. MyPlate, but not CC, resulted in lower systolic blood pressure at 6 months but not at 12 months. Participants for both MyPlate and CC reported greater quality of life and emotional well-being and high satisfaction with their assigned weight-loss program. The most acculturated participants showed the greatest decreases in waist circumference. CONCLUSIONS: A MyPlate-based intervention might be a practical alternative to the more traditional CC approach to promoting satiety and facilitating decreases in central adiposity among low-income, mostly Latine primary care patients.





Questions about the HSR website? Email the Web Team

Any health information on this website is strictly for informational purposes and is not intended as medical advice. It should not be used to diagnose or treat any condition.