Low Carb Weight Loss Diets
Long Term Effects (2)
Low Carb Diet Studies - Results
The researchers' meta-analysis found that people on diets of 60 or fewer
grams of carbohydrates a day (a threshold used in some of the popular
low-carbohydrate diets) did lose weight. But the weight loss was associated
with restriction of caloric intake and longer diet duration, not with
reduced carbohydrate intake. It also found that the greatest weight loss
occurred among those participants on diets with the highest baseline weight
and lowest caloric content.
"The greatest predictors of weight
loss appear to be caloric intake and diet duration," she said. "The
findings suggest that if you want to lose weight, you should eat fewer
calories and do so over a long time period."
The researchers found no significant adverse
effects on cholesterol, glucose, insulin and blood-pressure levels among
participants on the diets. But, Bravata stressed, the adverse effects
may not have shown up within the short period of the studies. She also
said losing weight typically leads to an improvement in some of these
levels, so this could have had an impact on the numbers.
Low Carb Diet Studies - Conclusion
The researchers concluded that there is insufficient evidence overall
to make recommendations for or against using the diets. Bravata said studies
are now needed on the role of exercise in weight loss (as exercise information
was excluded from this analysis), the long-term effects of these diets
and the effectiveness and safety of these diets for people over the age
of 53.
Co-author Christopher Gardner agreed that
more studies on low-carbohydrate diets are needed. "There wasn't
a lot of information from well-designed, randomised controlled trials...The
obesity epidemic involves people having weight problems for years or decades,
and we need long-term data on these diets' effectiveness and safety."
For previous page, see Low
Carb Diets & Health
Source: Food Navigator.com 2003
|
com