DASH Keeps Girls Slim for Life

Teen girls who follow the DASH diet are more likely to stay slim into adulthood. The "Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension" diet is endorsed by the American Heart Association as a way to control hypertension in adults.

Boston University Medical School researchers discovered that teen girls between the ages of 9 and 19 who follow the diet have less body mass index gains over the next 10 years and also stay thinner. Such an eating pattern may help prevent excess weight gain during adolescence, researchers determined.

Add more fruits and vegetables to your diet to control weight.

The DASH diet was created following a 6-year nutrition study. It suggests eating lean protein sources such as chicken, fish, and low-fat dairy products along with high consumption of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and legumes. A main feature of the diet is reduced sodium levels and elevated intake of potassium and other key nutrients.

The DASH diet was recently named the "best overall diet" by U.S. News and World Report.

In addition to weight loss benefits, the diet helps to maintain a normal BMI, lower blood pressure and reduce the risk of diabetes and heart disease.

The study followed 2,327 girls who had 10 annual doctor visits starting at the age of 9 years old. Girls were trained by a nutritionist and kept food diaries.

The girls ate more fruits, vegetables and low-fat dairy and ultimately gained less weight.