The Claim

In adults with insulin resistance, an 8-week low-energy-density diet (1.0 kcal/g) high in either potatoes or beans reduces body mass index by approximately 1.3–2.0 kg/m², with no significant difference between the two diets.

Source: Low-Energy Dense Potato- and Bean-Based Diets Reduce Body Weight and Insulin Resistance: A Randomized, Feeding, Equivalence Trial

What the research says

Supports is higher

Support is ahead, but a single strong opposing study can change this.

Supports
78score
Challenges
0score

These are independent scores, not a percentage. Higher-grade studies count more, so a single strong opposing study can outweigh several weaker ones.

Quantitative
1 study reviewed
In plain English

In adults with insulin resistance, eating a low-energy-density diet high in potatoes or beans for 8 weeks lowers body mass index by 1.3 to 2.0 kg/m², and both diets produce the same reduction.

See the scientific wording

In adults with insulin resistance, an 8-week low-energy-density diet (1.0 kcal/g) high in either potatoes or beans reduces body mass index by approximately 1.3–2.0 kg/m², with no significant difference between the two diets.

Why this might work

Eating large volumes of low-calorie foods like potatoes and beans fills the stomach, signaling the brain to stop eating, which reduces total calories consumed. This causes the body to burn stored fat for energy, leading to weight loss. At the same time, undigested parts of these foods reach the gut, where bacteria break them down into compounds that trigger the release of hormones that improve how the body uses insulin, making fat loss more effective.

Verified mechanismbased on 1 study

What the research says

1 study
  1. Study: Low-Energy Dense Potato- and Bean-Based Diets Reduce Body Weight and Insulin Resistance: A Randomized, Feeding, Equivalence Trial

    In a study where people with insulin resistance ate either potato-based or bean-based diets for 8 weeks, both diets helped them lose weight and lower their BMI by about the same amount — between 1.3 and 2.0 points — proving that either food works just as well.

Score breakdown, mechanism chain, raw evidence, ideal studies needed & 1 supporting studies

Fit Body Science verdict — we translate health claims into clear verdicts backed by peer-reviewed research.

Not medical advice. For informational purposes only. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional before making health decisions.