Eating very few carbs and more fats for 12 weeks makes people with excess body fat lose about 6-9 centimeters from their waist size.

Scientific Claim

Very low-carbohydrate high-fat diets significantly reduce waist circumference by approximately 6-9 cm in overfat adults after 12 weeks of intervention.

Original Statement

“Waist circumference (cm) decreased by −6.3 (−8.6; −4.7)** in the VLCHF group and −9.4 (−11.8; −7.9)** in the VLCHF+HIIT group”

From study:Effects of a Very Low-Carbohydrate High-Fat Diet and High-Intensity Interval Training on Visceral Fat Deposition and Cardiorespiratory Fitness in Overfat Individuals: A Randomized Controlled Clinical Trial

Evidence Quality Assessment

Claim Status

overstated

Study Design Support

Design supports claim

Appropriate Language Strength

probability

Can suggest probability/likelihood

Assessment Explanation

While the study shows association between VLCHF diet and waist circumference reduction, the total energy intake also decreased in VLCHF groups, so the effect may be partly due to caloric deficit rather than macronutrient composition alone.

More Accurate Statement

“Very low-carbohydrate high-fat diets are associated with significant reductions in waist circumference by approximately 6-9 cm in overfat adults after 12 weeks of intervention, though this effect may be partly due to reduced caloric intake.”

Evidence from Studies

Supporting (1)

Effects of a Very Low-Carbohydrate High-Fat Diet and High-Intensity Interval Training on Visceral Fat Deposition and Cardiorespiratory Fitness in Overfat Individuals: A Randomized Controlled Clinical Trial

RCT

Human

2021

Contradicting (0)

No contradicting evidence found

Source Study

Effects of a Very Low-Carbohydrate High-Fat Diet and High-Intensity Interval Training on Visceral Fat Deposition and Cardiorespiratory Fitness in Overfat Individuals: A Randomized Controlled Clinical Trial

Score: 60

DOI: 10.3389/fnut.2021.785694

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