Peanuts: A weight-loss solution? That’s the surprising conclusion of new research out of Texas that shows Hispanic middle school children at high risk for being overweight or obese reduced their Body Mass Index (BMI) by snacking on peanuts.

The 12-week study, published in the Journal of Applied Research on Children, was conducted by researchers at the University of Houston Department of Health and Human Performance, Baylor College of Medicine, and Texas Woman's University.

"Obesity is the most pressing health issue facing us today," said Craig Johnston, HHP assistant professor. "We'd like to think it's preventable, but from where I sit right now, there hasn't been a lot shown to be very effective on a large scale.

"We have a lot of kids skipping meals for a whole bunch of reasons. What we found is that kids get home from school around 4 p.m. There's less supervision by parents and less structure. Kids are sitting down at the TV and eating, eating, eating because they really didn't eat at school."

For the study, instructors guided 257 Latino adolescents from three Houston-area charter schools through a program of physical activity and nutrition education. About half the students received a snack of peanuts or peanut butter three to four times a week, while the rest received the snack fewer than once a week.

The snack was given after school as students were boarding the school bus to go home. Peanuts were chosen because they are nutrient-dense snacks that promote a feeling of being full.

After 24 weeks, the students given peanuts lost more weight, on average, than the others.
The researchers conclude that afterschool programs and schools can replace unhealthy snacks with peanuts to provide a healthier alternative for children.

Johnston says the fight against obesity needs creative solutions that help people manage their weight, appetite, and hunger by offering socially acceptable food choices.

"Schools are doing a great job of teaching kids, getting them workforce ready, and a whole bunch of other things. We've just got to make sure that our kids are going to live long, happy lives with that kind of education," he added.