It is estimated that over half of the adult American population is either overweight or obese, placing these individuals at an increased risk for health complications. The prevalence of overweight and obesity has steadily increased in recent years in adults, children, and adolescents leading to a variety of dietary strategies by both health professionals as well as the popular press, in an attempt to help individuals maintain their body weight. It is important to focus on dietary strategies that help to prevent weight gain at an early age; because once an individual gains weight it can be very difficult to lose it later in life.

Recent research has suggested a protective effect from whole grain foods against weight gain in adults, and an inverse association between whole grain intake and body mass index (BMI), an indirect measure of body fat has been found in both children and adults. The protective effect of whole grains against weight gain may be related to a) the fiber content of whole grain foods which enhance satiety, a feeling of fullness in between meals, or b) the effect of whole grain on improvements in blood glucose and insulin levels.