Rebecca Pascual

Ms. Rebecca Pascual


Research Focus & Metrics

Academic Career Length

8Years (2019-Present)

(Calculated once Scilit publication data is synced: current year − year of first publication + 1)

Representative Publications

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13 December 2019 in Nutrients
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
PDF file
RPRebecca Pascual
Rebecca Pascual
SPSuzanne Phelan
Suzanne Phelan
Michael La FranoMichael La Frano
Michael La Frano
KPKari Pilolla
Kari Pilolla
ZGZoe Griffiths
Zoe Griffiths
GFGary Foster
Gary Foster
Inadequate vitamin and mineral intake is documented among individuals with obesity, but is unknown among long-term weight loss maintainers (WLM). This study examined dietary quality and micronutrient adequacy among WLMs in a commercial weight management program. Participants were 1207 WLM in Weight Watchers (WW) who had maintained a 9.1 kg or greater weight loss (29.7 kg on average) for 3.4 years and had a body mass index (BMI) of 28.3 kg/m2. A control group of weight stable adults with obesity (controls; N = 102) had a BMI of 41.1 kg/m2. Measures included the Diet History Questionnaire-II, Healthy Eating Index-2015 (HEI), and Dietary References Intakes. WLM versus controls had a 10.1 point higher HEI score (70.2 (69.7–70.7) vs. 60.1 (58.4–61.8); p = 0.0001) and greater odds of meeting recommendations for copper (OR = 5.8 (2.6–13.1)), magnesium (OR = 2.9 (1.8–4.7)), potassium (OR = 4.7 (1.4–16.5)), vitamin A (OR = 2.8 (1.7–4.8)), vitamin B6 (OR = 2.9 (1.6–5.2)), and vitamin C (OR = 5.0 (2.8–8.8)). WLM, compared to controls, also reported higher percentages of calories from carbohydrates (50.3% (49.7–50.8) vs. 46.7% (44.8–48.7); p = 0.0001) and protein (18.2% (18.0–18.5) vs. 15.9% (15.1–16.6); p = 0.0001) and lower calories from fat (32.3% (31.9–32.8) vs. 37.4% (35.8–38.9); p = 0.0001). Long-term weight loss maintenance in a widely used commercial program was associated with a healthier diet pattern, including consuming foods with higher micronutrient density.