Over a 10-year period, adults with obesity who follow a low-fat diet high in protein with behavioral support experience a significant decrease in body fat, including visceral fat, without losing...
Mechanism
Synthesis from 1 study
When people eat less fat, more protein, and get ongoing support, they burn more calories than they consume for years, which makes fat cells shrink — especially around the organs — while their muscles stay strong, as shown in a 10-year study of obese adults (10.1007/s40519-026-01852-6).
Most probable mechanism
When people eat less fat and more protein while getting regular support, they burn more calories than they take in over time, which causes fat cells to shrink and break down, especially around the organs, without losing muscle — this is seen in a 10-year study of obese adults who followed this diet plan (10.1007/s40519-026-01852-6).
A low-fat, high-protein diet creates a sustained negative energy balance, reducing circulating free fatty acids and insulin levels, which promotes lipolysis in adipose tissue (10.1007/s40519-026-01852-6)
Reduced insulin signaling and lower lipid availability suppress adipocyte hypertrophy and trigger apoptosis in visceral adipose tissue, leading to selective reduction in visceral fat mass (10.1007/s40519-026-01852-6)
High protein intake maintains nitrogen balance and stimulates muscle protein synthesis, preventing lean mass loss despite prolonged caloric restriction (10.1007/s40519-026-01852-6)
Behavioral support sustains adherence to the dietary pattern over 10 years, enabling continuous energy deficit and long-term adipose tissue remodeling without compensatory metabolic adaptation (10.1007/s40519-026-01852-6)
Evidence from Studies
Supporting (1)
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