Low-Carbohydrate Versus Low-Fat Diet in Managing Obesity
Low-Carbohydrate Versus Low-Fat Diet in Managing Obesity
Objectives: Although low-fat diets (LFD) have been the cornerstone of dietary guidelines for weight reduction, low-carbohydrate diets (LCD) continue to gain attention and popularity. Which diet can achieve significant and sustainable weight loss in unclear, however. Our objective in this study was to compare LCDs with LFDs and their impact on weight loss.
Methods: We performed a MEDLINE/PubMed search for English-language articles of randomized controlled studies conducted with adults who were overweight or obese for at least 6 months for the time period of January 2001–October 2014. Two reviewers independently abstracted data, including participants' characteristics, diet composition and duration, and change in weight from baseline at 6 and 12 months.
Results: A total of 17 studies were analyzed. At 6 months, the mean weight loss for participants on an LCD was −1.439 kg (95% confidence interval −2.319 to −0.558) compared with participants on an LFD (P < 0.001). At 12 months, the difference was smaller, −0.769 kg (95% confidence interval −1.361 to −0.178) but remained statistically significant (P < 0.010). The mean difference in the weight loss between the two diets was attenuated over time.
Conclusions: Reducing carbohydrate intake may help patients achieve weight loss. The mean difference in weight change between an LCD and an LFD was too small to have a meaningful impact on weight loss. More studies are needed to better elucidate the role of LCDs in weight loss efforts.
The scientific quest for the optimal macronutrient mix of diets has undergone an unprecedented expansion in the last decade. With the rapid increase in the prevalence of obesity worldwide, there is urgency in identifying an effective and safe diet for body weight reduction. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the overall prevalence of obesity in the United States remains unchanged since 2003, with 34.9% of adults being obese in 2011–2012. Although the low-fat diet (LFD) has been the traditional cornerstone of the dietary guidelines of various national and international societies, there is interest in low-carbohydrate (LCD), high-fat and high-protein diets. Several books on LCD, high-protein diets have been bestsellers. There also has been a proliferation of commercial products with a focus on LCD substitutes for high-carbohydrate foods.
The controversy in recommending LCDs is likely to be intensified with studies questioning the wisdom of limiting saturated fat intake and the additional revelations in mice and humans as to the potential adverse health outcomes attributed to high-protein diets.
To explore and clarify the relative merits of LCDs, a review of the literature was conducted with a focus on studies that compared LCDs with LFDs and their impact on weight loss.
Abstract and Introduction
Abstract
Objectives: Although low-fat diets (LFD) have been the cornerstone of dietary guidelines for weight reduction, low-carbohydrate diets (LCD) continue to gain attention and popularity. Which diet can achieve significant and sustainable weight loss in unclear, however. Our objective in this study was to compare LCDs with LFDs and their impact on weight loss.
Methods: We performed a MEDLINE/PubMed search for English-language articles of randomized controlled studies conducted with adults who were overweight or obese for at least 6 months for the time period of January 2001–October 2014. Two reviewers independently abstracted data, including participants' characteristics, diet composition and duration, and change in weight from baseline at 6 and 12 months.
Results: A total of 17 studies were analyzed. At 6 months, the mean weight loss for participants on an LCD was −1.439 kg (95% confidence interval −2.319 to −0.558) compared with participants on an LFD (P < 0.001). At 12 months, the difference was smaller, −0.769 kg (95% confidence interval −1.361 to −0.178) but remained statistically significant (P < 0.010). The mean difference in the weight loss between the two diets was attenuated over time.
Conclusions: Reducing carbohydrate intake may help patients achieve weight loss. The mean difference in weight change between an LCD and an LFD was too small to have a meaningful impact on weight loss. More studies are needed to better elucidate the role of LCDs in weight loss efforts.
Introduction
The scientific quest for the optimal macronutrient mix of diets has undergone an unprecedented expansion in the last decade. With the rapid increase in the prevalence of obesity worldwide, there is urgency in identifying an effective and safe diet for body weight reduction. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the overall prevalence of obesity in the United States remains unchanged since 2003, with 34.9% of adults being obese in 2011–2012. Although the low-fat diet (LFD) has been the traditional cornerstone of the dietary guidelines of various national and international societies, there is interest in low-carbohydrate (LCD), high-fat and high-protein diets. Several books on LCD, high-protein diets have been bestsellers. There also has been a proliferation of commercial products with a focus on LCD substitutes for high-carbohydrate foods.
The controversy in recommending LCDs is likely to be intensified with studies questioning the wisdom of limiting saturated fat intake and the additional revelations in mice and humans as to the potential adverse health outcomes attributed to high-protein diets.
To explore and clarify the relative merits of LCDs, a review of the literature was conducted with a focus on studies that compared LCDs with LFDs and their impact on weight loss.
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