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Study: Low-fat diet beats low-carb diet over long term
Source: Bakingbusiness.com, November 17, 2004 - by Jeff Gelski
LAS VEGAS - A new study using National Weight Control Registry data shows that only a minority of successful weight losers are on low-carbohydrate diets.
In the study, individuals who increased their fat intake during one year regained the most weight, suggesting that continued consumption of a low-fat diet remains important to long-term success.
The N.W.C.R. was established more than 10 years ago to examine the characteristics of dieters who have lost 30 lbs or more and kept the weight off for more than a year.
The initial study had 784 participants who followed a low-calorie, low-fat diet and engaged in a high level of physical activity.
The new study included 2,118 women and 584 men who enrolled in 1995, 1997, 1999, 2001 and 2003. The N.W.C.R. presented an abstract on the study Nov. 15 at a meeting of the North American Association for the Study of Obesity in Las Vegas.
From 1995 to 2003, the daily percentage of calories from fat increased to 29.3% from 23.8%. Saturated fat intake increased to 14 grams per day from 12.3 grams per day. Calories from carbohydrates decreased to 49% from 56.1%.
The proportion of study participants eating less than 90 grams of carbohydrates per day, considered a low-carbohydrate diet by the N.W.C.R., increased to 17.1% from 5.9%.
The recommended daily allowance for carbohydrates is set at 130 grams per day for adults and children based on the average minimum amount of glucose used by the brain, according to the National Academy of Sciences.
Physical activity increased in 1995, as measured by the latest study, but stayed comparable in all other years.
"It really shows that common sense is the answer," said Judi Adams, president of the Grain Foods Foundation in Ridgway, Colo., of the new study. "It just reconfirms the Grain Foundation's premise that all diets can work short term, but for long-term success, people need to eat a balanced diet according to the Food Guide Pyramid and also exercise.
"That's nothing really exciting, but it's the truth. Unfortunately, there's no magic bullet."
A representative with Atkins Nutritionals, Inc., based in Ronkonkoma, N.Y., disagreed with how the N.W.C.R. study defined low-carbohydrate dieters.
"The so-called, low-carb failures were increasing foods high in fat as well as high in carbohydrates," said Colette Heimowitz, vice-president of education and research for Atkins Nutritionals. "They were not following a low-carb program and cheating on a low-fat program."
The protein percentage consumed by the dieters was far lower than the protein percentage consumed by dieters in a typical low-carbohydrate diet, Ms. Heimowitz said.
"They went back to eating carbs and fat," she said. "They were cheating with sugary junk food."
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