Low-carbohydrate and low-fat diets are two commonly studied strategies for weight loss, with both diets reporting modest mean weight loss although with little mean weight loss difference between diet groups. Some have suggested that genotype pattern or insulin resistance may be tied to diet success.
Stanford University researchers assigned 609 overweight and obese adults (BMI 28-40) to either a 12-month low-carbohydrate or low-fat diet. All participants attended 22 diet-specific small group sessions. The study also tested whether genotype patterns and insulin secretion were linked to weight loss.
Researchers found that after a year, both groups lost weight with no statistically significant difference between the groups. Those on the low-carbohydrate diet lost on average 6 kg (about 13 lbs) while those on the low-fat diet lost 5.3 kg (about 11 lbs). Neither insulin sensitivity nor genetics were associated with diet type and 12-month weight loss.
Gardner, C. D., Trepanowski, J. F., Del Gobbo, L. C., Hauser, M. E., Rigdon, J., Ioannidis, J. P., … & King, A. C. (2018). Effect of low-fat vs low-carbohydrate diet on 12-month weight loss in overweight adults and the association with genotype pattern or insulin secretion: the DIETFITS randomized clinical trial. JAMA, 319(7), 667-679.
2 Comments
Add Yours →In the end, it all comes to “more calories out than calories in”. If that is Keto, Weight Watchers, Vegan or the Bandworm Diet. Key is to find something that you enjoy and that is sustainable in the long run. And it helps if you are not constantly hungry. So the chocolate and red wine diet would probably work if you keep the calories consumed below the calories expelled, but in(SAD!) reality, nobody can keep that up for longer than a week or so.
Thanks for your comment Mel! This article, at least in terms of low-carb vs. low fat, seems to line up with your thoughts of finding something that is enjoyable and sustainable. Now about that chocolate and red wine diet… 😉