Do Low-Carb
Diets Work?
(04/30/03)
Low-carb diets work because of calorie restriction, not carb restriction, that
from reviewing medical studies back to the 1960’s.
After reviewing medical studies from as far back as the 1960s, researchers found that low-carb diets may not be an effective way to lose weight. Although a low-carb diet will help you shed pounds in the short-term, researchers say it’s because of calorie restriction, not carb restriction.
Researchers reviewed dietary studies published between 1966 and 2003 that involved a total of 3,268 study participants. Of the participants, 663 people followed low-carbohydrate diets, defined as consuming 60 grams of carbs per day or less, and 71 people consumed about 20 grams per day, which is the amount recommended by popular low-carb diets, such as the Atkins’ diet.
According to U.S. Recommended Daily Allowances, a person on the average 2,000-calorie diet should consume about 300 grams of carbohydrates daily.
It was found that the low-carb diet had no adverse effects on cholesterol, glucose, insulin or blood pressure. Weight loss among obese patients was associated with adherence to the diet rather than reduced carbohydrate intake.
Researchers noted that most of the studies lasted less than 90 days, so knowledge about the long-term effects of low-carb diets is limited. The National Institutes of Health is planning a study that will compare health benefits of people on low-carb and regular diets over a five-year period.
Researchers conclude that there is inadequate evidence to either support or refute the claims that low-carb diets are good for you. They note that balancing nutrition, consuming a healthy amount of calories and exercising are reliable ways to produce weight loss.
Source: Diabetes In Control Dot Com: JAMA April 9, 2003;Vol. 289 No. 14.
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