Great news for pasta lovers

Research from Italy (where else?) has shown that, contrary to popular belief, pasta is not linked to obesity and is in fact associated with a reduced likelihood of general and abdominal obesity.

The research, conducted by the Department of Epidemiology, IRCCS Neuromed in Pozzilli and published in the journal Nutrition and Diabetes, examined over 23,000 people recruited in two large epidemiological studies: Moli-sani and INHES (Italian Nutrition & Health Survey).

Analysing anthropometric data of the participants and their eating habits, the researchers observed that consumption of pasta contributed to a healthy body mass index, lower waist circumference and better waist-hip ratio.

Licia Iacoviello, head of the Laboratory of Molecular and Nutritional Epidemiology at the Neuromed Institute, says the research shows that there is no reason to do without pasta, which he describes as “a fundamental component of Italian Mediterranean tradition”. The message, he says, is that the Mediterranean diet, consumed in moderation and respecting the variety of all its elements, is good for your health.