Carbs and Dieting Research
When it comes to weight loss success, a study review suggests you can go low-carb or more-carb.
The various guises of low-carb diets continue to be widely promoted as a superior way to shed unwanted pounds. But the scientific evidence suggests you can still drop some weight when eating carbs and dieting.
Researchers in South Africa sought to compare low-carbohydrate diets to those with a higher allowance for this macronutrient. Specifically, they were looking at weight loss success and heart disease risk in those who were overweight or obese. Included in their analysis, published in Cochrane Review, were 61 randomized controlled studies involving 6,925 male and female participants who were either placed on low-carbohydrate or balanced-carbohydrate weight-reducing diets.
The number crunching revealed there is little data to support that, when it comes to weight loss dieting, those which greatly restrict carbs are more effective for weight loss or measures of heart health. That includes blood pressure and LDL cholesterol over a 2-year period in people with or without type 2 diabetes than higher-carb diet plans. In other words, there is more than one way to eat to slim down, including still consuming a balanced amount of carbs. Pasta lovers, rejoice!
Matthew Kadey, MS, RD
Matthew Kadey, MS, RD, is a James Beard Award–winning food journalist, dietitian and author of the cookbook Rocket Fuel: Power-Packed Food for Sport + Adventure (VeloPress 2016). He has written for dozens of magazines, including Runner’s World, Men’s Health, Shape, Men’s Fitness and Muscle and Fitness.
