Study finds low carb diet beats low-fat for weight loss, cardiac risk

Results of a recent study published in the Annals of Internal Medicine contradict long held medical beliefs by showing that low-carb eating thrashes low-fat diets in terms of weight loss along with cardiac risk factors.

Researchers divided 150 obese men and women, ages 22 to 75, into two groups. The low-carb group was told to eat fewer than 40 grams of carbohydrates per day, while the low-fat folks were instructed to derive 30 percent of calories from fat and 55 percent of calories from carbohydrates. Both groups had access to both group and individual nutritional counseling throughout the yearlong study. Neither group was directed to restrict calories in any way.

Participants in the low-carb group lost three times as much weight during the study period, and their blood levels of triglycerides, cholesterol and c-reactive protein (a marker of inflammation) were better than those in the low-fat group.