DASH Diet Works for Young Girls: Study

The DASH—or Dietary Approach to Stop Hypertension—diet is usually prescribed to adults to control high blood pressure, but a study found that it may also slow weight gain among teenage girls. The diet encourages consumption of whole grains, fruits, vegetables, low-fat and nonfat dairy, meat, fish, and nuts, and limits sugar, red meat, and fats. The longitudinal study, published in the Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, followed more than 2,000 girls aged 9 or 10 for a decade. Those who adhered closely to DASH had the smallest weight gain—they also exercised more and watched less TV.