The Study
Effect of a controlled high-fat versus low-fat diet on insulin sensitivity and leptin levels in African-American and Caucasian women.
We don't know how the study was done, so we can't say if eating more fat really changed how the women's bodies worked. It just says there was a difference, but we don't know if it was because of the food or something else.
Analysis score
Maximum 44 for a cross-sectional study.
Where the score came from
Scientists gave women two different diets—one with lots of fat and one with less fat—to see how their bodies responded.
Where does this study sit?
Reviews of RCTs (Meta-analyses)
Max 100Randomized Trials
Max 90Reviews of Cohort Studies
Max 85Cohort Studies
Max 72Reviews of Case-Control Studies
Max 63Case-Control Studies
Max 58Cross-Sectional & Case Series
Max 50Expert Opinion
Max 520 / 100
Quality score
Snapshots of a population at a single point in time, or descriptions of small groups. Can identify correlations and prevalence, but cannot determine cause and effect.
Key takeaways
Summary
Based on the study abstract and findings.
- 1Yes—this suggests diet fat levels affect how well the body uses insulin, and this effect may differ by race.
- 2Women on high-fat diets became less sensitive to insulin.
- 3When switched to low-fat diets, Caucasian women improved more than African-American women.
Score breakdown, methodology, conflicts of interest, evidence analysis & raw study data
Publication
Journal
Metabolism: clinical and experimental
Year
1998
Authors
Jennifer C. Lovejoy, Marlene M. Windhauser, J. Rood, J. A. D. L. Bretonne
Related Content
Claims (2)
After switching to a low-fat diet, Caucasian women show a larger increase in insulin sensitivity compared to African-American women.
Women who eat a high-fat diet for several weeks show lower insulin sensitivity compared to those who do not.
Not medical advice. For informational purposes only. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional before making health decisions.