Low-fat, high-carb diet does not cause weight gain in post-menopausal women

[doreen T]

Low-fat, high-carb diet does not cause weight gain in post-menopausal women

Last Updated: 2006-01-03 16:00:47 -0400 (Reuters Health)

NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Replacing fat in the diet with vegetables, fruits, and whole grains does not lead to increased body weight in postmenopausal women, according to results of the Women's Health Initiative Dietary Modification Trial.

Some proponents of popular diets have low-fat and high-carb diets for the increased prevalence of obesity in the US over the past several decades, Dr. Barbara V. Howard and her associates note in their report, published in this week's Journal of the American Medical Association.

To assess this premise, Howard, from MedStar Research institute in Washington, DC, and her colleagues evaluated long-term weight changes among nearly 49,000 women ages 50 to 79 enrolled between 1993 and 1998 in the WHI trial.

Abut a third of the women were randomly assigned to participate in group and individual sessions that promoted a reduction in total dietary fat to 20%, at least five servings daily of fruits and vegetables, and six servings of grains, but no restriction in calories. The other women received diet- and health-related educational materials only.

During the first year, mean weight decreased significantly in the intervention group by 2.2 kg (p < 0.001), but not in the control group. Although average weight in the intervention group tended to increase over time, it remained below baseline and significantly lower by 0.5 kg than the comparison group for nine years.

"A low-fat dietary pattern may help attenuate the tendency for weight gain commonly observed in postmenopausal women," Howard's team concludes.

However, editorialists from Tufts University, Dr. Michael L. Dansinger and Dr. Ernst J. Schaefer, call the study's findings on long-term weight change "underwhelming," and suggest that the intervention should have also included advice on caloric restriction for participants who were overweight or obese.

They reported in 2005 that cutting calories resulted in weight loss and heart disease risk factor reduction, regardless of diet type.

"Much more work needs to be done on the obesity front," the Boston-based writers advise, "including a concerted collective effort focused on developing reliable methods of facilitating high long-term adherence levels to substantial lifestyle efforts -- specifically calorie-reduced eating patterns and much more exercise."

SOURCE: Journal of the American Medical Association, January 4, 2006.


http://www.reutershealth.com/archive/2006/01/03/eline/links/20060103elin023.htm


.l

[Lisa N]

Although average weight in the intervention group tended to increase over time, it remained below baseline and significantly lower by 0.5 kg than the comparison group for nine years.

Underwhelming, indeed. The average difference in weight between the 'healthy eaters' and the control group was 1.1 pounds. And they call this difference 'significant'????
The headline states "does not cause weight gain" however above, they state that while weight in the intervention group tended to increase over time (read: they gained weight) it was lower than the other group by 1.1 pound.

During the first year, mean weight decreased significantly in the intervention group by 2.2 kg (p < 0.001), but not in the control group. Although average weight in the intervention group tended to increase over time, it remained below baseline and significantly lower by 0.5 kg than the comparison group for nine years.

In English: The intervention group lost almost 5 pounds in the first year and then gained roughly 4 of them back while the other group pretty much stayed the same. End result, neither group saw any significant changes in weight over the duration of the study. :rolleyes:

[LC FP]

Michael Dansinger is now a big hotshot expert in the diet field because of his equally underwhelming comparison study of Atkins, Ornish, Zone and WW diets. One of the crummiest studies I've ever seen. But it got him on TV and in a bunch of "popular" magazines.

[SidC]

About a third of the women were randomly assigned to participate in group and individual sessions that promoted a reduction in total dietary fat to 20%, at least five servings daily of fruits and vegetables, and six servings of grains, but no restriction in calories. The other women received diet- and health-related educational materials only.
Ditto on "underwhelming." In addition, their study may have had a serious confound. The article is not clear, but it looks like the control group women were handed a bunch of brochures and sent home. The controlled-diet group women received a lot more attention - either individual or group sessions. They also got on-going reinforcement to think about their food intake with the specific, daily diet regimen.

It reminds me of an early famous social psych study about how to increase productivity of factory-line workers. I don't remember the exact details, but the researchers tried painting the walls one colour and productivity went up. Then they tried a different colour and productivity went up again. They tried new lighting and... you get the picture. Every time they changed something, productivity went up. It finally dawned on the researchers that the workers were responding to change per se - that the workers felt better because they felt like management was paying attention to them. A classic confound.

If the doctors cited in the diet study had been doing this research, they would have trumpeted the result that "painting walls yellow" increases work effort.

[CindySue48]

AP's take....bold is mine:

CHICAGO - Older women who ate less fat and more carbohydrates lost about 2 pounds over seven years, a large study showed.

While one obesity expert called the results disappointing, the lead author of the research said it refutes claims by promoters of the Atkins and Zone diets that low-fat diets are partly behind America's obesity epidemic.

"It will help people to understand that the weight gain we're seeing in this country is not caused by the lower-fat diets," said study author Barbara V. Howard of MedStar Research Institute, a nonprofit research group.

However, the skimpy weight loss after seven years won't satisfy people looking for a cure for obesity, said Dr. Michael Dansinger, an obesity researcher at Tufts-New England Medical Center who was not involved in the study.

"This is like losing the Super Bowl but claiming a second place victory," Dansinger said. "The results are disappointing in the context of a country trying to battle obesity."

The study, appearing in Wednesday's
Journal of the American Medical Association, included more than 48,000 women, ages 50 to 79. They were followed for an average of seven years and six months.

One group of women lowered the fat in their diets while increasing fruits, vegetables and whole grains. The other group didn't change their diets significantly.

The target fat content of the diet was 20 percent, but the women on the diet actually got about 30 percent of their calories in fat; their previous fat intake was about 39 percent.

The women on the diet increased their carb calories from 44 percent to 53 percent, while the women not on the diet stayed at about 44 percent carbs.

The low-fat group lost, on average, 4.8 pounds in the first year, then regained most of that weight. The non-diet group stayed at about the same weight over the seven years.

The women were part of the Women's Health Initiative, a research project of the
National Institutes of Health that involves thousands of postmenopausal women across the country. Other WHI studies have uncovered the risks of taking hormones.

Weight loss was not the original focus of the study, Howard said. Other findings on the low-fat diet's effect on heart disease and cancer will be released this year, she said.

But researchers realized their data could answer charges made by popular diet promoters who drew a link between obesity and recommendations of low-fat eating plans by health organizations and the government. Low-fat diets promote foods like grains and pasta, which are mostly forbidden by low-carb diets.

"The Zone" diet author Dr. Barry Sears, after reading the new study, said he stands by his belief that the recommended low-fat, high-carb diet caused Americans to gain weight.

He noted that women on the low-fat diet in the study lost only a fraction of a pound per year, on average, and they added 1.6 centimeters — about a half-inch — to their waist circumferences. The other group added 1.9 centimeters.

"I was struck by what the study didn't say," Sears said.

Dansinger, who co-authored an editorial that accompanies the study, said his research has shown that diets like Atkins and The Zone work, but are hard to stay on.

"People who succeed at maintaining a dramatic weight loss have changed their mindset and priorities and have made exercise and healthy eating among the top priorities in their lives," he said.

[Lisa N]

He noted that women on the low-fat diet in the study lost only a fraction of a pound per year, on average, and they added 1.6 centimeters — about a half-inch — to their waist

This is an important observation. Even though these women finished up the study at a lower weight (even if it was only slightly lower), they ended up with a waist that was larger, so their bodies were beginning to store fat in the 'apple' pattern. Guess who's developing insulin resistance even on the 'healthier' diet? ;)

[Turtle2003]

This is an important observation. Even though these women finished up the study at a lower weight (even if it was only slightly lower), they ended up with a waist that was larger, so their bodies were beginning to store fat in the 'apple' pattern. Guess who's developing insulin resistance even on the 'healthier' diet?

Excellent point.

[eepobee]

you can get the full text (or download a pdf) here: http://jama.ama-assn.org/cgi/content/full/295/1/39

here's one revealing piece of information that the authors surely won't be trumpeting. the participants in the intervention group lost an average of only 0.4kg after seven years on a diet in which they reported eating more than 300 calories less/day than when they began the intervention (baseline 1788 calories/follow up 1445 calories). 1445 calories/day for 7 years and a measely 0.4 kgs to show for all my hard work? 1445 calories/day on a high carb diet = starving. this tells me that either a) people won't lose weight on a low-fat diet even if they're eating far fewer calores, or b) participants in the intervention group reported eating what they thought they were supposed to be eating (i.e. underreporting or misreporting de facto nutrient/calorie intake), or some combination of the two.

here's a look at one of the pertinent tables:

http://jama.ama-assn.org/content/vol295/issue1/images/medium/joc50164t2.gif

[rickg1961]

Not only did the low fat group eat less over the period studied, but they increased their weekly physical activity by 10%. Adding the extra kcals burned from extra physical activity to the equation, and they likely would have even gained weight if measured on food intake alone.

[eepobee]

"It will help people to understand that the weight gain we're seeing in this country is not caused by the lower-fat diets," said study author Barbara V. Howard of MedStar Research Institute, a nonprofit research group.really, how so? since neither those in the intervention nor those in the control group (who were supposed to maintain their normal eating habits) gained weight, how does this aid our understanding of anything? according to these results no one should be gaining any weight, which we know, unfortunately, is far from the case.

and does it makes sense to extrapolate results attained in a study of post-menupausal women to an entire population?

[Gailew]

This study was discussed on the local news tonight, along with clips of interviews with the author of the study. She said high carb but then carefully explained that she meant vegetables, fruits and whole grains. Sounds like controlled carb to me. I think it's all in the language. "Low carb" is out, but it looks like starchy carbs and sugar are starting to be down played, IMO. Hopefully, soon everyone will meet in the middle and all will benefit by being encouraged to eat a whole foods diet.

[eepobee]

the dietary modification component of the women's health initiative was not devised for the purposes of comparing weight loss regimes. here's how it's described on whi's website (http://www.whi.org/about/):
The Dietary Modification component is [sic] evaluated the effect of a low-fat, high fruit, vegetable and grain diet on the prevention of breast and colorectal cancer and heart disease. Study participants followed either their usual eating pattern or a low-fat eating program.i'm guessing that the low-fat, high fruit, vegetable and grain diet yielded no positive results in regards to the prevention of breast and colorectal cancer or heart disease, so the authors are desperately searching for something meaningful to report after spending 15 years and millions of taxpayer dollars .

[eepobee]

considering the results presented thus far, i found it interesting that the waist circumference of women in the intervention group increased despite their very modest weight lost. i wonder how the authors are digesting this in light of the fact that they were hoping to reduce the risk of colorectal cancer, but...
There is some evidence that abdominal obesity may be more important in colon cancer risk. In men, a high BMI tends to be associated with abdominal fat. In women, fat is more likely to be distributed in the hips, thighs, and buttocks. Thus, two measures of abdominal fat, waist-to-hip ratio or waist circumference, may be better predictors of colon cancer risk.

http://www.cancer.gov/newscenter/obesity1

[LC_Dave]

Wow,

It's really disturbing the way society is.
Does the media work for the Devil ? wtf ?

Why does no one look at this stuff except us ?

Stop the planet, I wanna get off!

[JHTuresson]

Thanks for the link to the original article, eepobee.

Unfortunately (citation): "the database available for the analyses in this article did not allow the separation of carbohydrate intake into the percentage of sugar or simple vs complex carbohydrates."

Another citation: "Financial Disclosures: Dr Howard has been a consultant for Merck, the Egg Nutrition Council, and General Mills; has received research support from Pfizer, Merck, and Schering-Plough; and has lectured for Schering-Plough."

Merck & Co., Inc. is a pharmaceutical company. Here is a list ( http://www.cogforlife.org/merckproducts.htm ) of their drugs treating or preventing for example: Clots after certain cardiac events, Blood Pressure, Nepropathy in diabetics, high cholesterol levels, Stroke.
Pfizer Inc is the world's largest pharmaceutical company and Schering-Plough is another large pharmaceutical company.

General Mills, according to themselves "markets some of the most trusted and respected food brands around the world". Products are highly processed foods, including: Cereals, potato mixes, soups, frozen pizza, snacks, cakes and deserts, soy products, meal, partially baked and fully baked dough products, etc etc ( http://www.generalmills.com/corporate/company/overview.aspx ).

But scaring people away from fats has of course nothing to do with consumption of processed carbohydrates and drugs… ???

[eepobee]

check out dr. michael eades take on this "study" here (http://blog.proteinpower.com/drmike/).

and one more thing to consider: the mean weight of the women at baseline in this study was 170 lbs. (77 kgs.) with a mean bmi of 29.1. could it be the reason these women didn't gain weight is because they were already bordering on obese? i guess the authors won't be telling us anytime soon how a low-fat/low-calorie diet keeps overweight people overweight.

[Samuel]

http://www.nytimes.com/2005/12/25/realestate/25deal1.html?ex=1151298000&en=d1b048a121ce50bd&ei=5087&mkt=rephoto

Study Examines Low - Fat, High - Carb Diet

By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Published: January 3, 2006
Filed at 8:08 p.m. ET

CHICAGO (AP) -- Older women who ate less fat and more carbohydrates lost about 2 pounds over seven years, a large study showed.

While one obesity expert called the results disappointing, the lead author of the research said it refutes claims by promoters of the Atkins and Zone diets that low-fat diets are partly behind America's obesity epidemic.

''It will help people to understand that the weight gain we're seeing in this country is not caused by the lower-fat diets,'' said study author Barbara V. Howard of MedStar Research Institute, a nonprofit research group.

However, the skimpy weight loss after seven years won't satisfy people looking for a cure for obesity, said Dr. Michael Dansinger, an obesity researcher at Tufts-New England Medical Center who was not involved in the study.

''This is like losing the Super Bowl but claiming a second place victory,'' Dansinger said. ''The results are disappointing in the context of a country trying to battle obesity.''

The study, appearing in Wednesday's Journal of the American Medical Association, included more than 48,000 women, ages 50 to 79. They were followed for an average of seven years and six months.

One group of women lowered the fat in their diets while increasing fruits, vegetables and whole grains. The other group didn't change their diets significantly.

The target fat content of the diet was 20 percent, but the women on the diet actually got about 30 percent of their calories in fat; their previous fat intake was about 39 percent.

The women on the diet increased their carb calories from 44 percent to 53 percent, while the women not on the diet stayed at about 44 percent carbs.

The low-fat group lost, on average, 4.8 pounds in the first year, then regained most of that weight. The non-diet group stayed at about the same weight over the seven years.

The women were part of the Women's Health Initiative, a research project of the National Institutes of Health that involves thousands of postmenopausal women across the country. Other WHI studies have uncovered the risks of taking hormones.

Weight loss was not the original focus of the study, Howard said. Other findings on the low-fat diet's effect on heart disease and cancer will be released this year, she said.

But researchers realized their data could answer charges made by popular diet promoters who drew a link between obesity and recommendations of low-fat eating plans by health organizations and the government. Low-fat diets promote foods like grains and pasta, which are mostly forbidden by low-carb diets.

''The Zone'' diet author Dr. Barry Sears, after reading the new study, said he stands by his belief that the recommended low-fat, high-carb diet caused Americans to gain weight.

He noted that women on the low-fat diet in the study lost only a fraction of a pound per year, on average, and they added 1.6 centimeters -- about a half-inch -- to their waist circumferences. The other group added 1.9 centimeters.

''I was struck by what the study didn't say,'' Sears said.

Dansinger, who co-authored an editorial that accompanies the study, said his research has shown that diets like Atkins and The Zone work, but are hard to stay on.

''People who succeed at maintaining a dramatic weight loss have changed their mindset and priorities and have made exercise and healthy eating among the top priorities in their lives,'' he said.

[Samuel]

Dansinger, who co-authored an editorial that accompanies the study, said his research has shown that diets like Atkins and The Zone work, but are hard to stay on.
They are obviously much easier than high carb, low fat diets.

If there was any reason to believe they are hard, it'll be because the society we live in almost worships high carb foods. Tons of them are available at every store, every vending machine, every restaurant, every movie theater, every birthday party, at work, at the beach,....every where!

If the society can ever change, low carb diets will become the easiest to follow.

[kebaldwin]

The women on the diet increased their carb calories from 44 percent to 53 percent, while the women not on the diet stayed at about 44 percent carbs.

Help me out by checking my math and units:

44% * 2,500 calories / 4 calories per gram of carb = 275 grams of carbs per day !!!

Considering that the weight gain / loss point is about 50 grams of carbs per day -- no wonder these ladies did not lose any weight !

I don't know much about the "Zone diet", but 275 grams of carbs per day is NOT the Atkins diet. That is more than 10 times the number of carbs you are suppose to eat !

This appears to be more propaganda by the pharma companies / American Medical Association that says "nothing you can do except take our pills or let us cut on you".

At least they could be honest and just come out and say this instead of lying through their teeth.

[seyont]

As Dr Eades points out in his blog today, the study group should have lost 110 lbs each on their lower fat, higher carb, lower calorie diet.

110 lbs is not 2 lbs. And a calorie is not a calorie.

[JHTuresson]

Both groups reported much decreased energy intake. Thus the absolute amounts of energy from both fats AND carbohydrates were actually reduced in both groups.

The control group reduced energy from fat with 97 kcal/day and from carbs with 98 kcal/day,
while the "diet group" reduced energy from fat with 263 kcal/day and from carbs with 34 kcal/day. (both groups also reported reduced protein intake)

Amazing that none of them lost any meaningful amount of weight?
The biggest difference between calories and calories is between the ones people actually consume and the ones they report…

[littlejohn]

TWO POUNDS IN SEVEN YEARS!!!

Is that going to convince anyone that the low-fat diet is not worthless? If I am looking at 2 pounds in seven years I am looking at an absolute failure.

And I think the 2 pounds is from eating better carbs (lower carb) more than from reducing fat.

[SidC]

i'm guessing that the low-fat, high fruit, vegetable and grain diet yielded no positive results in regards to the prevention of breast and colorectal cancer or heart disease, so the authors are desperately searching for something meaningful to report after spending 15 years and millions of taxpayer dollars .
Ditto -

Depressing how often that kind of thing happens.

[sxy29]

TWO POUNDS IN SEVEN YEARS!!!

Is that going to convince anyone that the low-fat diet is not worthless? If I am looking at 2 pounds in seven years I am looking at an absolute failure.

And I think the 2 pounds is from eating better carbs (lower carb) more than from reducing fat.



I lost 5.5 pounds the last 10 days doing high carb\low fat (yes, this was over the holidays) and I am still loosing. Atkins wasn't working for me and I continued gaining weight. I think so often people forget it's not always just the food you eat. No matter what plan you follow it's essential to eat naturally wholesome food (whether it's high carb or low carb). There is another key element...portion control. I think the American population as a whole forgot how much a serving is. We are so accostumed to eating bigger portions, in fact I think this is just making the nation fatter. As you get older you need to decrease your calories or increase your exercise (to prevent bone loss) and not doing either of these or both will eventually cause someone to gain weight.

Everyone needs to find there way of eating\life, but need to keep on top of it because alterations will need to be made as years go by and we get older. It's a constant experiment it seems.

Please don't stone me just offering my opinion.

[littlejohn]

sxy29

I can't seem to find any stones right now?! Lucky for you!!

My story goes something like this - don't stone me either!

I lost a lot of weight in my early 20s by riding a bike about 200 miles a week. I was racing. I started "learning" about how I should reduce my fat intake and increase my carbs. I began to buy into that. The result was a mysterious 20 lb. weight gain over the next year or so. Enough to make me lose every race.

Now I know the problem was eating low-fat, high-carb. That is a menu for disaster for me. Now I have lost well and am in real control of my diet for 1 and 1/2 years with Atkins.

[Stylus]

I've had a similar experience: 5 years of eating low fat -high carb caused me to gain nearly 50 pounds.

Atkins helped me to realise that refined carbs caused a massive addiction and also inflammation in my body, which I have now been free from for nearly a year - plus no hungers pangs!!! Yay!

There is another key element...portion control. Agreed, but Atkins has allowed me to naturally down-size my portions, because the fat controls my appetite.
Low-fat diets promote foods like grains and pasta, which are mostly forbidden by low-carb diets. Most LC plans encourage you to gradually include whole grains into your eating, including Atkins.

[Samuel]

I lost 5.5 pounds the last 10 days doing high carb\low fat ........
There is another key element...portion control.....Please don't stone me just offering my opinion.
No body likes to stone you. I only like to remind you that losing weight is easy. Keeping the weight you lost off is the hard thing to do.

Before Atkins, I have been on your type of diets at least 6 times. I have been losing all my weight in less than 6 months then gaining them back over the following 3 years. Can you call that a success?

With Atkins I could not even reach my goal weight, but I could keep what I lost off for more than 2 years. This is what I call a great success.

Lifetime portion control is nothing which I can do. The reason is that it keeps me thinking about food all day long. I can't do business or any thing else unless I get food thoughts off my mind and I can't get them off my mind unless I eat until I'm full.

[Lisa N]

She said high carb but then carefully explained that she meant vegetables, fruits and whole grains.

So I'm guessing that the reason that the intervention group ended the study getting almost two thirds of their grains from non-whole grain sources and less servings of grains overall was???? ;)

[Nancy LC]

You gotta read Dr. Eades analysis of this study. http://blog.proteinpower.com/drmike/

He pointed out that the control group was basically left alone while the study group had constant attention and coaching. So... with constant attention and coaching, they only lost 4 pounds? Sounds pretty danged lame to me.

[GeoUSA]

The research and article missed a very important point. Low fat diets work until the various cells of the body become insulin resistant. Afterwards, the weight accumulates ever faster! Most low fat diets are high in sugar, carbs, and empty calories and contribute to insulin resistance. It may take years, but it's far more likely on low fat than on low carb.

[eepobee]

has anyone noticed that this thread and this (http://forum.lowcarber.org/showthread.php?t=279245) thread are discussing the same article. just a heads up...

[Lisa N]

has anyone noticed that this thread and this (http://forum.lowcarber.org/showthread.php?t=279245) thread are discussing the same article. just a heads up...

Thanks for pointing that out; the two have been joined together into one discussion now. :)

[eepobee]

another newspaper article on this study:
A challenge to low-carb dieting
January 4, 2006

While not restricting calories, older women who ate less fat and more carbohydrates lost about 2 pounds in seven years, according to a study today in the Journal of the American Medical Association.

Study author Barbara V. Howard, PhD, said the findings challenge claims by promoters of low-carbohydrate, high-protein diets, such as Atkins and South Beach, that a low-fat, high carb diet is responsible for the country's alarming increase in overweight people.

Dr. Wahida Karmally, an associate research scientist at the Columbia University Medical Center, said the new study was not designed to address comparisons of eating habits.

"The study does show that people really need contact with health professionals who can guide them in lifestyle changes," said Karmally, noting that study participants had access to a professional nutrition expert.

Previous studies have shown low-carb, high-protein diets lead to faster short-term weight loss and greater improvements in blood fat levels compared with conventional low-fat diets. But other, similar studies have shown the low-carb regimen is harder to maintain beyond six months.

The Women's Health Initiative Feasibility Study published today included 48,835 women followed from 1993 to 1998. The trial was designed to examine long-term benefits and risks of a diet low in fat and high in vegetable, fruit, and grain intake in postmenopausal women, ages 50 to 79.

The ongoing study is exploring the relationship between diet and heart attack and cancer prevention.

Howard said weight loss was not the original focus, but researchers realized their findings could provide data on low-fat eating plans touted by the government and others.

The target fat content was to be 20 percent of the diet, but women on the diet actually got about 30 percent of their calories from fat, down considerably from their previous fat intake of about 39 percent. The women increased their carbohydrate calories from 44 percent to 53 percent. The women lost about 4.8 pounds in the first year, but regained most of the weight. A control group stayed at about the same weight.

Dr. Irwin Klein, associate chairman of research at North Shore-LIJ Health System, said the study's findings were "dramatic because they took a group of women where they were able to alter their fat content, but they didn't lower their calories.

"The one thing the public continues to miss that this study puts out there clearly is that reducing fat in the diet is good, but you won't lose weight until you cut down on calories," Klein said.

http://www.newsday.com/news/health/ny-hscarb044574499jan04,0,6776562.story?coll=ny-health-headlines

[eepobee]

i had a google alert out for this study and got a list of links to articles. this is just the first of eight pages of article links (231 articles in all), but i found the headlines interesting, so i'd thought i'd share (there's and rss link at the bottom):
In Major Diet Study, Carbohydrates Found Not Guilty
CNN - 7 hours ago
By Neil Osterweil, Senior Associate Editor, MedPage Today. HYATTTSVILLE, Md., Jan. 3 - Postmenopausal women who ate a diet low in ...

Study shows low-fat diet helps keep weight down
San Jose Mercury News, USA - 14 hours ago
By Rob Stein. Eating less fat does not magically melt flab away, as some had hoped, but it does not necessarily lead to weight gain ...

A challenge to low-carb dieting
Newsday, NY - 17 hours ago
BY CURTIS L. TAYLOR. While not restricting calories, older women who ate less fat and more carbohydrates lost about 2 pounds in seven ...

New study contradicts advice on low-carb diets
Boston Globe, United States - 17 hours ago
By Carey Goldberg, Globe Staff | January 4, 2006. In recent years, some diet gurus have contended that a low-fat diet leads to weight ...

Low-Fat Diets Help Postmenopausal Women
Forbes - Jan 3, 2006
TUESDAY, Jan. 3 (HealthDay News) -- A diet low in fat and higher in fruits, vegetables and whole grains did not cause weight gain ...

Low-Fat, High-Carb Diet Is No Gainer
FOX News - Jan 3, 2006
By Daniel J. DeNoon. Fad diets may tell you otherwise, but eating a low-fat, high-carb diet won't make you gain weight. In fact, women ...

Low-fat, high-carb diet may not cut weight
Miami Herald, FL - Jan 3, 2006
CHICAGO - Older women who ate less fat and more carbohydrates lost about 2 pounds over seven years, a large study showed. While ...

Women who cut dietary fat lose weight: study
Reuters - Jan 3, 2006
CHICAGO (Reuters) - Post-menopausal women who cut their fat intake and eat more high-fiber, high-carbohydrate foods such as fruits and whole grains tend to ...

Researchers: Certain Carbs Don't Promote Weight Gain
INDYchannel.com, IN - 2 hours ago
INDIANAPOLIS -- A study shows that consumption of certain types of carbohydrates doesn't promote weight gain. The study focused ...

Weight loss minimal in low-fat diets
United Press International - 5 hours ago
WASHINGTON, Jan. 4 (UPI) -- A study of 48,000 women over seven years has shown eating a low-fat diet leads to only a modest long-term loss of weight. ...

7-year study: Cutting fat small help
Akron Beacon Journal, OH - 11 hours ago
CHICAGO - Older women who ate less fat and more carbohydrates lost only about 2 pounds over seven years, a large study shows. While ...

Low-Fat Diets: 7-Year Study Reaffirms Their Weight Loss Value. ...
NewsReleaseWire.com (press release) - 11 hours ago
(san Francisco, CA ---) Just when you thought diet foods could finally be laced with some tasty oils and delicious fatty foods, this week’s Journal of the ...

NHLBI media availability: Low-fat dietary pattern and weight ...
Innovations-Report, Germany - 11 hours ago
Results of the first study on the long-term effects of a dietary pattern low in fat and high in carbohydrates suggest that a low-fat eating pattern does not ...

Study: Low-Fat, High-Carb Diet Results In Negligible Weight Loss
The Common Voice, SC - 12 hours ago
This Miami Herald story is about a new study of the low-fat, high-carb diet that is so cherished by the media, government, and medical "experts" which was ...

Study: Fat not key to losses
Quad City Times, IA - 13 hours ago
By The Associated Press. Eating less fat does not magically melt flab away, as some had hoped, but it does not necessarily lead to ...

Study turns tables on low-carb diets
Contra Costa Times, CA - 14 hours ago
By Julie Davidow. Cutting fats and embracing carbohydrates helped older women in a new study lose nearly two pounds more than their ...

Lower-fat diet leads to weight loss of 2 pounds in 7 years
Toronto Sun, Canada - 15 hours ago
By AP. CHICAGO -- Older women who ate less fat and more carbohydrates lost about 2 pounds over seven years, a large study showed. ...

Study: Low-fat diets do work for women
Arizona Daily Star, AZ - 18 hours ago
By Angela Zimm. A study involving more than 48,000 women older than 50 found that a low-fat diet loaded with carbohydrate-rich fruits ...

Not All Carbs Lead To Weight Gain, Study Shows
WRAL.com, NC - 19 hours ago
While carbohydrates are the target of many popular diets, a new study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association suggests the right kind of ...

Low-Fat Dietary Pattern Doesn't Affect Weight Gain
Ivanhoe, FL - 20 hours ago
With obesity dramatically increasing in the past several decades, many have blamed low-fat, high-carbohydrate diets often recommended by physicians and ...

Study: Low Fat, Good Carbs Best Way To Lose Weight
NBC 10.com, PA - 21 hours ago
Is cutting back on carbohydrates the only way to see numbers on the scale go down? A new study shows that eating the right kind ...

Study gives carbs a break
United Press International - 23 hours ago
WASHINGTON, Jan. 3 (UPI) -- A study says low-fat, high-carbohydrate diets are not as bad for the waistline as some diet books have ...

Seven Year Study of Low-Fat, High-Carbohydrate Diet
The Common Voice, SC - 23 hours ago
The Miami Herald article, Study examines Low-fat, high-carb diet, opens with the following sentence: Older women who ate less fat and more carbohydrates lost ...

Study Puts New Twist On Carb-Cutting
WNBC, NY - Jan 3, 2006
Many Americans are cutting carbs to shed pounds. But a large, long-term study suggests that eating the right kinds of carbs doesn't lead to weight gain. ...

Eating certain carbs doesn’t lead to weight gain
News 8 Austin, TX - Jan 3, 2006
Low-carb. No-carb. Many Americans are cutting back on carbohydrates in order to lose weight. But a large, long-term study now shows ...

Study Weighs Low-Fat, High-Carb Diet
Boston Channel.com, USA - Jan 3, 2006
BOSTON -- If your New Year's weight loss plan is to eat less fat and healthier carbohydrates, the results of the most comprehensive diet study to date may ...

Health Alert: Carb diet
WIS, SC - Jan 3, 2006
(National-NBC) January 3, 2006 - Low-carbs, no-carbs. Many Americans are cutting back on carbs in order to lose weight, but a large ...

High-Carbohydrate Diet and Weight Gain in Postmenopausal Women
Newswise (press release) - Jan 3, 2006
Newswise — In a clinical trial of over 48,000 post-menopausal women, a low-fat diet that includes increased consumption of fruits, vegetables and whole ...

'Good' Carbs Don't Lead To Weight Gain, Study Says
WJACtv.com, PA - Jan 3, 2006
CHICAGO -- A big study offers somewhat conflicting results for diets that cut fat and raise carbohydrates. The lead author said ...

Low-fat, high-carb diet led to only moderate weight loss
KRON 4, CA - Jan 3, 2006
Following for release at 4 pm, Eastern time CHICAGO (AP) _ A big study offers somewhat conflicting results for diets that cut fat and raise carbohydrates. ...

http://news.google.com/news?ie=utf8&oe=utf8&persist=1&hl=en&client=google&ncl=http://www.newsday.com/news/health/ny-hscarb044574499jan04,0,6776562.story%3Fcoll%3Dny-health-headlines&ned=:ePkh8BM9E8JvByvQDgNWFFuMBMTfFaVOnqSTdqsua6a3rcknAFM2Drk

[ProfGumby]

Smells like Bullshit to me.......... :bash:

[LC_Dave]

The research and article missed a very important point. Low fat diets work until the various cells of the body become insulin resistant. Afterwards, the weight accumulates ever faster! Most low fat diets are high in sugar, carbs, and empty calories and contribute to insulin resistance. It may take years, but it's far more likely on low fat than on low carb.

Dude,

that is an awesome comment.
What you have said correctly describes what happenned to me!

[arc]

This is an important observation. Even though these women finished up the study at a lower weight (even if it was only slightly lower), they ended up with a waist that was larger, so their bodies were beginning to store fat in the 'apple' pattern. Guess who's developing insulin resistance even on the 'healthier' diet? ;)

So if their weight is down slightly but their waist size is larger, does that mean they are losing lean body tissue and gaining fat? Doesn't sound like a good thing to me.

[Lisa N]

So if their weight is down slightly but their waist size is larger, does that mean they are losing lean body tissue and gaining fat? Doesn't sound like a good thing to me.

It might mean that, but I take it to mean that they are storing the fat they have (even if in theory there is now less of it since their scale weight is lower) in their bellies (classic apple shape indicating insulin resistance) as opposed to other places such as thighs and buttocks. Any way you slice it (less muscle or apple pattern fat storage), it's not a good thing. :p

[SidC]

The research and article missed a very important point. Low fat diets work until the various cells of the body become insulin resistant. Afterwards, the weight accumulates ever faster! Most low fat diets are high in sugar, carbs, and empty calories and contribute to insulin resistance. It may take years, but it's far more likely on low fat than on low carb.
Excellent point indeed! I am *very* interested in any references you can give on this! My mother was diagnosed with arteriosclerosis a number of years back and went on this extreme low/no fat diet as an alternative to surgery. She initially lost about 40 lbs, then gained it all back, plus. And has had to undergo two surgeries to clear blocked carotid arteries.

I have been working on her to switch to LC - with not much success so far. But she will listen to evidence, so if you've got some references I can point out to her, that would be greatly appreciated -

[eepobee]

My mother was diagnosed with arteriosclerosis a number of years back and went on this extreme low/no fat diet as an alternative to surgery. She initially lost about 40 lbs, then gained it all back, plus. And has had to undergo two surgeries to clear blocked carotid arteries.

I have been working on her to switch to LC - with not much success so far. But she will listen to evidence, so if you've got some references I can point out to her, that would be greatly appreciated -

a short search yielded the following links to studies that expose the relationship between high-carb diets, insulin resistance, and chd.

Relation Between Blood Glucose and Coronary Mortality Over 33 Years in the Whitehall Study (http://care.diabetesjournals.org/cgi/content/abstract/29/1/26)

Carbohydrate restriction improves the features of Metabolic Syndrome. Metabolic Syndrome may be defined by the response to carbohydrate restriction (http://www.nutritionandmetabolism.com/content/2/1/31)

A low-carbohydrate, ketogenic diet to treat type 2 diabetes (http://www.nutritionandmetabolism.com/content/2/1/34)

The case for low carbohydrate diets in diabetes management (http://www.nutritionandmetabolism.com/content/2/1/16)

Fructose, insulin resistance, and metabolic dyslipidemia (http://www.nutritionandmetabolism.com/content/2/1/5)

Role of a critical visceral adipose tissue threshold (CVATT) in metabolic syndrome: implications for controlling dietary carbohydrates: a review (http://www.nutritionandmetabolism.com/content/1/1/12)

[SidC]

a short search yielded the following links
Much appreciated - I will check these out.