Sep 8 2010 --- Since it was established, the BENEO-Institute has given particular focus to weight management in order to respond to the global search for contributions and solutions in the fight against unhealthy weight gain and obesity.

Anke Sentko, Vice President Regulatory Affairs & Nutrition Communication, BENEO, is convinced that weight management is globally “the most important challenge in public health”. In the UK alone, 61% of the population are overweight or obese, and the Health Survey for England found that there was a marked increase in the proportion of people that were obese. This proportion has gradually increased from 13% in 1993 to 24% in 2008 for men and from 16% to 25% for women during the same time period. 

In the past, global weight management research was crucial to find out how to get sufficient energy to survive and maintain growth in significant parts of the world.  While undernourishment still exists,  in today’s society weight management has evolved to a topic focused on avoiding excess energy intake, increasing energy expenditure and driving the metabolism to store less fat or use more fat. The final goal is to maintain healthy physical functions and body weight, or to reduce body weight. 

In a series of animal studies with OraftiP95 (oligofructose) or OraftiSynergy1 (oligofructose-enriched inulin) a consistent decrease in energy intake and fat mass was demonstrated.  Human intervention studies were conducted to confirm those findings and one of these studies concentrated on BENEO prebiotic fibres. It found that healthy volunteers supplemented with 2x8 grams a day of OraftiP95 for two weeks took in significantly less energy at breakfast and lunch compared to the volunteers supplemented with the placebo. This decrease, which resulted in a reduction of about 6% energy intake throughout the day, may be explained by an effect of oligofructose on appetite regulation .

Moreover, a study with adolescents and OraftiSynergy1 was associated with a normal body weight development in contrast to the placebo group.

Further investigation found that, after a 12 weeks human intervention study (randomised, double-blind and placebo controlled) of receiving 21 grams per day (3x7g/d) OraftiP95, 48 overweight and obese participants experienced a significant reduction in body weight whilst control subjects actually gained weight. The weight loss mainly affected body fat mass, in particular trunk fat mass, and can be attributed to the lower energy intake of the oligofructose group.

The demand for incorporating weight management benefits into functional food continues to grow. Therefore, the BENEO-Institute will continue to look into how BENEO ingredients support weight management to further help food and beverage manufacturers develop new product innovations to address the obesity issue. Moreover, a special edition of regularly published magazine “Window to Science” has been dedicated entirely to the topic. Anke Sentko comments: “Enquiries directed to the institute prove that there is a strong demand for further knowledge of those possible aspects of weight management beyond calorie counting. We are committed to guiding our customers through regulatory and scientific questions within the development of new products containing BENEO ingredients, especially in such a complex area.”