All of us have heard of foods that are "fattening".
Who hasn't heard that bread is fattening, starches are fattening, sweets are fattening.
But what is the truth? Are there really foods that can put on the pounds? It seems there are.
A recent study by a group of researchers in Boston published in the New England Medical Journal (June 23, 2011) reported on a number of foods that lead to weight gain.
The researchers also note a number of foods that don't promote added pounds.
They studied 120,877 men and women in the U.
S.
over a period of years.
They noted the subjects gained an average of 3.
35 pounds over a 4 year period and then looked to see which foods and lifestyle behaviors might account for this increased weight.
A number of foods were positively linked to putting on the pounds So what foods are linked to weight gain and what foods are the major culprits? Foods Leading to Weight Gain over the Four Year Period

1. French Fries: French fries were associated with a whopping 6.
   59 lb.
   (age adjusted) gain in weight.
   How many Americans think nothing of downing a large order of French fries? A large order of French fries can pack a whopping 500 calories.
   If you love French fries, limit how often you eat them and order a small size serving.
   
2. Potato Chips: Chips were associated with a 3.
   01 lb.
   (age adjusted) gain in weight.
   How many Americans can eat only a few potato chips at one sitting? Buy a 2.
   5 ounce bag of potato chips and the package says a serving size is 15 chips for 160 calories.
   But if you eat the entire 2.
   5 ounce bag, you are getting a whopping 400 calories with 230 calories from fat.
   Who eats only 15 chips? If you love potato chips but want to cut back, then try baked potato chips which have a lot less calories or buy the smallest bag of chips you can, like the 1 ounce size and limit yourself to one serving.
   
3. Sugar-sweetened beverages: third on the list as the biggest cause of weight gain.
   Sugar-sweetened beverages were associated with a 1.
   32 lbs.
   (age adjusted) gain in weight.
   Most of us would call this soda or pop depending where you live.
   Soda provides 240 calories all from sugar per 20 ounces.
   Many people drink more than 20 ounces of soda a day.
   If you want to see how much sugar is in your sweetened drink, go to sugarstacks.
   com.
   
4. Refined Grains: Many people are unsure as to what a refined grain is but basically it is anything made with white flour so white bread, many breakfast cereals.
   Refined grains were linked to a.
   56 (age adjusted) weight gain.
   
5. Butter: whole fat dairy foods were linked to weight gain with butter associated with a.
   47 lb.
   (age adjusted) weight gain.
   

So what does this data mean for some of the dietary myths that are out there? Myth One: "bread is fattening".
Well, this study shows that refined grains like white bread can help put on the pounds but the study also noted whole grains like whole wheat bread doesn't lead to weight gain.
Myth Two: "dairy foods are fattening".
Yes, butter seems to be linked to weight gain but yogurt and low-fat dairy foods were not.
So to fend off those pounds, avoid or limit your intake of French fries, potato chips, and sugar-sweetened beverages.