The effect of consuming different snacks on energy intake and body weight in females: A clinical trial

Objective: To investigate the long-term effects of the daily consumption of isoenergetic quantities of fresh banana, banana juice or water, as snacks, on energy intake and body weight in healthy women.

Material-methods: Thirty-three pre-menopausal women aged 19–50 years old, having Body Mass Index between 24–30 kg/m2, were randomly assigned to one of three intervention groups: “Banana”, “Juice” and “Water”. Volunteers were asked to consume on a daily basis for two months, 30 min before lunch and dinner, 120 g of fresh banana or 170 mL of banana juice or 170mL of water, respectively. Body weight and dietary intake were evaluated at baseline and at the end of the study. At the end of the study, self-reported changes in their appetite-related feelings, compared to the pre-intervention state, were also recorded.

Results: Body weight  (“Banana Group”: 74,7±11,4 and 75,2±11,4 kg, “Juice Group”: 68,9±7,7 and 69,5±7,4 kg, “Water Group” 73,8±6,9 and 74,3±7,4kg, at pre- and post-intervention respectively, P=0,979) or energy intake values were not significantly different at the end of the intervention, compared to the pre-intervention levels, in any of the three groups; furthermore, no significant intervention effect was found for these outcomes. Participants in the “Banana Group” reported greater reduction in the feeling of hunger (P=0,052) and a greater increase in the feeling of fullness (P=0,028), compared to those in the “Juice Group”.

Conclusions: Daily consumption of banana and banana juice does not lead to an increase in body weight, finding suggesting that adequate energy compensation takes place.