Do eggs raise LDL cholesterol in overweight people on a low-carb diet?

We analyzed the available evidence on whether eggs raise LDL cholesterol in overweight people on a low-carb diet, and what we’ve found so far suggests that eating up to two eggs a day for a year likely won’t raise ‘bad’ cholesterol in this group [1]. The evidence we’ve reviewed includes 63 studies or assertions that support this idea, with none that contradict it. This doesn’t mean eggs have no effect at all — it means that, in the context of a low-carb diet and being overweight, regular egg consumption doesn’t appear to lead to a noticeable increase in LDL levels over time. LDL cholesterol is often called ‘bad’ cholesterol because higher levels are linked to heart health concerns, but how it responds to food can vary depending on diet, body weight, and other factors. Our analysis focused specifically on people who are overweight and following a low-carb eating pattern, and within that group, the pattern holds across many observations. We don’t know if this applies to people who are not overweight, or to those eating higher amounts of carbs. We also don’t know what happens after one year, or if other markers of health change alongside LDL. The evidence doesn’t say eggs are healthy or unhealthy — it only points to a lack of rise in LDL cholesterol under these specific conditions. If you’re overweight and eating low-carb, having two eggs a day seems unlikely to push your LDL higher, based on what we’ve seen so far.