Mixed
Diets with lower energy density (higher water/fiber content from fruits and vegetables) are associated with significantly higher daily monetary costs compared to energy-dense diets (high in fats, sugars, and refined grains), regardless of total energy intake levels.
If you are trying to eat healthier by increasing fruits and vegetables, expect your grocery bill to go up. This is because energy-dense foods (fats, sugars, refined grains) are subsidized and processed to be cheaper per calorie than fresh produce. To manage costs, focus on affordable energy-dilute foods like potatoes, legumes, and seasonal vegetables, rather than assuming all 'healthy' foods are budget-friendly.
Within each quintile of energy intake, diets of lower energy density (MJ kg-1) were associated with higher diet costs (€ day-1).
Why this rating
Observational study with a large sample size (n=837) and robust statistical adjustment, but relies on estimated prices rather than actual individual expenditure.
Source
Energy-dense diets are associated with lower diet costs: a community study of French adults
Nicole Darmon et al. · Public Health Nutrition · 2004
DOI 10.1079/phn2003512
Related findings · Mixed
- Bariatric surgery (VSG and RYGB) is the most effective and sustainable treatment for obesity, producing marked and sustained weight loss that non-surgical interventions cannot match.Strong
- Severely protein-deficient diets (2–3% energy) induce lean body mass loss and metabolic imbalance, whereas adequate protein intake (0.66 g/kg/d minimum) is a prerequisite for maintaining muscle, bone, and physiological function.Strong
- For patients with Class III obesity (BMI >39.9 kg/m2), metabolic bariatric surgery (MBS) is significantly more effective than any currently approved medication, with BilioPancreatic Diversion (BPD) showing the highest estimated weight loss.Strong
This is one finding among thousands. Every one is graded and traced to its source, so you can see what the evidence actually supports. Browse the research →