Categorisation of non-core foods and drinks consumed by a clinical sample in an intervention trial

Non-core foods are discouraged in favour of core foods in dietary guidelines. Australian data indicates that consumption of non-core foods and drinks, or 'extra' foods, exceeds 20% of energy, the recommended limit for the healthy population. While energy-dense, nutrient poor choices are associated with excessive energy intake and weight, we found that trial participants who reported consuming greater amounts of non-core foods and drinks at baseline, lost more weight at 3 months than those consuming foods closer to guideline recommended foods. However, more detail about the types of non-core foods is required to give effective dietary advice.