People who snack on walnuts are less likely to be obese, new study finds

People who snack on walnuts are least likely to be obese, new research shows.

Almost 300,000 Americans were tracked for more than two decades. And those who ate nuts instead of unhealthy food seemed not to pile on weight.

Walnuts were linked to the lowest chance of being obese as those eating half a serving of a day were 15% less likely to balloon.

Study author Dr Deirdre Tobias of Brigham and Women’s Hospital, said: “Chewing nuts takes some effort, leaving less energy for eating other things.

“In addition, high fibre content can delay stomach emptying making a person feel full longer.

Walnuts were linked to the lowest chance of being obese as those eating half a serving of a day were 15% less likely to balloon (Getty Images)

“Nut fibre also binds well to fats in the gut, meaning that more calories are excreted. And there is evidence the high unsaturated fat content of nuts increases resting energy expenditure.”

Substituting half a serving of nuts for processed meats, refined grains, or desserts was linked with staving off weight gain of between 0.41 and 0.70kg in any four year period.

Over the same time, upping daily consumption from none to at least half a serving was linked to staving off 0.74kg in weight, lower risk of moderate gain, and 16% lower risk of obesity.

The findings are in the journal BMJ Nutrition, Prevention and Health.