Fiber and Complex Carbs

Fiber and complex carbs just might make the difference between having a normal BMI or becoming obese.
Take two people who are the same height and age: One has a normal body mass index (BMI), and the other is overweight or obese. What’s to account for the difference in their weight? Researchers compared the diets of more than 100 similarly matched people and found the major distinction in their eating patterns was fiber intake. The study, published in the Journal of the American Dietetic Association, found that adults with a healthy BMI eat 33 percent more dietary fiber and 43 percent more complex carbohydrates each day than people who are obese. So much for low-carb diets! Fiber fills you up and can keep you from feeling hungry longer. It also has zero calories.
By adding an extra 14 grams of fiber to your daily diet, you can reduce your calorie intake by 10 percent. That equals more than four pounds of weight loss in 17 weeks!