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EBLEX response to Gregory Campbell MP's Westminster Hall debate on obesity

10 November 2011

Obesity is a very real health problem for many people and by 2050 more than half of the population is predicted to be obese.

However, the exact causes are not clearly understood. It's now accepted that there are a combination of nutritional and non-nutritional factors that control food intake- eat better and exercise regularly- in short, and red meat can play an important role in better diets.

Red meat is a major source of protein, providing about 27-35 g/100g of cooked beef or lamb. Protein may lengthen the time it takes for people to want to eat again, compared with carbohydrate and fat. Increasing protein intake from 15 per cent to 30 per cent of energy has been shown to decrease calorie intake.

Evidence also suggests that in dietary practice, it may now be beneficial to replace refined carbohydrates with protein sources that are low in saturated fat, such as lean red meat. It has suggested that incorporating additional lean red meat into a calorie-reduced moderate fat may improve the feeling of fullness that persists after eating. This would suppress further energy intake until hunger returns.

Some cuts of lean red meat and red meat dishes have a low energy density, which have been found to contribute to greater weight loss without creating a sensation of food deprivation. To reiterate, obesity is a serious issue that needs to be addressed but lean red meat can have a positive role to play in weight loss and weight maintenance programmes.

The Meat Advisory Panel's factsheet on red meat and weight management can be viewed by visiting www.meatandhealth.redmeatinfo.com.

The EBLEX blog on obesity can be viewed by visiting www.beefandlambmatters.blogspot.com.



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