A Low Carb Diet Accelerates Weight Loss
Author: Leticia Celentano
Time for reading: ~1
minutes
Last Updated:
August 08, 2022
People on a low carb diet lose weight faster than those on a low fat diet and reduced portion sizes. This is shown by the results of a study on obese and obese people.
People on a low carb diet lose weight faster than those on a low fat diet and reduced portion sizes. This is shown by the results of a study on obese and obese people.
After a 12-week diet, participants in the low-carb diet lost an average of 4.9 pounds, compared with 2.5 pounds for people on the low-fat diet.
However, in the weight maintenance phase, which continued for another 24 weeks in the study, the difference between the two groups remained but was no longer statistically significant.
The results confirm that a low-carb diet is a sensible alternative to limited fat consumption and portion reduction, concludes Dr. Kevin C. Maki of the Research Institute in Chicago.
Dr. Maki's team tested a low-glycemic load diet that required people to limit their carbohydrate intake and consume foods that were relatively low in carbohydrates. These foods are usually high in fiber, contain more complex carbohydrates and include products such as vegetables and legumes.
Those included in this diet avoided eating foods high in carbohydrates, such as fruits and starchy foods for the first 2 weeks. They also abstained from alcohol, and after this period drinking moderate amounts of alcohol was allowed.
The permitted foods were allowed to be consumed as much as the participants wanted.
People included in the fat-restricted diet were instructed to reduce their caloric intake by 500 to 800 calories per day by eliminating high-fat foods and limiting portion sizes.
At 12 weeks, people on a low-carb diet had a significantly greater weight loss - losing an average of 1.9 kg, and the group on a low-fat diet - by 0.9 kg.
At 36 weeks, the first group lost 4.5 kg and the second 2.6 kg.
After a 12-week diet, participants in the low-carb diet lost an average of 4.9 pounds, compared with 2.5 pounds for people on the low-fat diet.
However, in the weight maintenance phase, which continued for another 24 weeks in the study, the difference between the two groups remained but was no longer statistically significant.
The results confirm that a low-carb diet is a sensible alternative to limited fat consumption and portion reduction, concludes Dr. Kevin C. Maki of the Research Institute in Chicago.
Dr. Maki's team tested a low-glycemic load diet that required people to limit their carbohydrate intake and consume foods that were relatively low in carbohydrates. These foods are usually high in fiber, contain more complex carbohydrates and include products such as vegetables and legumes.
Those included in this diet avoided eating foods high in carbohydrates, such as fruits and starchy foods for the first 2 weeks. They also abstained from alcohol, and after this period drinking moderate amounts of alcohol was allowed.
The permitted foods were allowed to be consumed as much as the participants wanted.
People included in the fat-restricted diet were instructed to reduce their caloric intake by 500 to 800 calories per day by eliminating high-fat foods and limiting portion sizes.
At 12 weeks, people on a low-carb diet had a significantly greater weight loss - losing an average of 1.9 kg, and the group on a low-fat diet - by 0.9 kg.
At 36 weeks, the first group lost 4.5 kg and the second 2.6 kg.
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