Abstract P476: Changes in Olive Oil Consumption and Weight Changes in US Men and Women

Background: Olive oil intake is inversely associated with the risk of chronic diseases and mortality. However, it is unclear whether there is an association between olive oil intake and weight changes; because it is an energy-dense food concerns have been raised that high intake may contribute to weight gain. Therefore, we aimed to determine the associations between long-term changes in olive oil consumption and changes in weight. Methods: We examined data from 116,243 women and men from the Nurses’ Health Study (NHS, 1990-2010), NHSII (1991-2015), and Health Professional Follow-up Study (HPFS, 1990-2014), who were free from chronic diseases at baseline. We applied multivariable linear regression models with robust variance estimators to assess the association of changes in olive oil intake within each 4-year interval with concurrent weight changes. Results across the three cohorts were pooled using inverse-variance weights. Results: At baseline, mean ± SD age was 54.8 ± 6.6 years in the NHS, 45.3 ± 8.0 years in the NHS2, and 53.9 ± 7.2 years in the HPFS. Mean body mass index was 25 kg/m2 at baseline across the three cohorts. The mean weight gain over each 4-year follow-up cycle was highest in the NHS2 (1.8; 95%CI -6.8 to 11.3 kg), followed by the NHS (1.0; 95%CI -6.8 to 9.1 kg), and lastly the HPFS (0.6; 95%CI -5.4 to 6.8 kg). Pooling across the cohorts after adjustment for sociodemographic, lifestyle, and set of dietary factors (fruits, vegetables, red and processed meat, sugar sweetened beverages, coffee, refined grains), each ½ Tablespoon (7 grams) serving per day increment in olive oil was associated with a slightly lower 4-year weight gain of -0.06 kg (95%CI -0.08 to -0.04 kg; p<0.0001). This inverse association was observed in the three cohorts, with a greater magnitude of association in the NHS2 (-0.08; 95%CI -0.10 to -0.05 kg; p<0.0001), followed by the HPFS (-0.07; 95%CI -0.12 to -0.02 kg; p=0.003) and lastly the NHS (-0.05; 95%CI -0.07 to -0.01 kg; p=0.02). Results were attenuated after adjustment for the Alternative Healthy Eating index (pooled -0.03; 95%CI -0.05 to -0.02; p=0.0003). Conclusions: Long-term habitual increase in olive oil consumption was not associated with increased weight gain in middle-aged and older adults.