Do low-fat or low-carb diets work better for weight loss?
Effect of Low-Fat vs Low-Carbohydrate Diet on 12-Month Weight Loss in Overweight Adults and the Association With Genotype Pattern or Insulin Secretion: The DIETFITS Randomized Clinical Trial
Not medical advice. For informational purposes only. Always consult a healthcare professional. Terms
Surprising Findings
Baseline insulin secretion (INS-30) did not predict who lost more weight on either diet.
Many popular diets claim insulin sensitivity determines if low-carb is better — this study found no such link in overweight adults.
Practical Takeaways
Choose between low-fat or low-carb based on what you enjoy and can stick with — not based on DNA tests or insulin claims.
Not medical advice. For informational purposes only. Always consult a healthcare professional. Terms
Surprising Findings
Baseline insulin secretion (INS-30) did not predict who lost more weight on either diet.
Many popular diets claim insulin sensitivity determines if low-carb is better — this study found no such link in overweight adults.
Practical Takeaways
Choose between low-fat or low-carb based on what you enjoy and can stick with — not based on DNA tests or insulin claims.
Publication
Journal
JAMA
Year
2018
Authors
C. Gardner, J. Trepanowski, Liana C. Del Gobbo, Michelle E. Hauser, J. Rigdon, J. Ioannidis, M. Desai, A. King
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The nutritional quality of dietary components exerts a greater influence on metabolic health outcomes than the relative proportions of macronutrients (carbohydrates, fats, proteins).
Whether someone has genes that might make them better at burning fat or carbs, or how much insulin their body makes after eating sugar, doesn’t help predict if they’ll lose more weight on a low-fat or low-carb diet.
When people are taught how to eat healthier, those on a low-fat diet end up eating about half carbs and a third fat, while those on a low-carb diet eat about a third carbs and almost half fat — and both groups stick to their plans similarly.