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It makes sense, but only if you choose the right kind. A study published in the January 2008 issue of the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition suggests that including whole grains in a weight-loss plan could help dieters drop belly fat. It followed 50 obese men and women for 12 weeks. As part of an otherwise nutritious diet, half the group ate grain-based foods made up of at least 51 percent whole grain (such as oatmeal, wholegrain cereal, brown rice and barley). The second group ate only refined grains, such as white bread and other foods made with white flour. After the 12-week diet, both groups had lost about the same amount of weight, an average of eight to 11 pounds, but the whole-grain group lost more belly fat, which is a risk factor for several health concerns.