The Study
Effect of low-carbohydrate vs low-fat diet intervention on visceral fat estimated from dual energy X-ray absorptiometry in a 12-month randomized controlled trial.
This study compared two diets and found that people on the low-carb diet lost more belly fat than those on the low-fat diet. But it doesn't prove the low-carb diet caused the fat loss — it just shows they went together in this group.
Analysis score
Maximum 90 for a randomized controlled trial.
Where the score came from
This study tested two healthy diets: one low in carbs and one low in fat. Both helped people lose weight, but the low-carb diet shrank the dangerous fat around the organs more.
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 567 / 100
Quality score
Participants are randomly assigned to treatment or control groups, minimizing bias. The gold standard for testing whether an intervention causes an effect.
Key takeaways
Summary
Based on the study abstract and findings.
- 1Yes — losing even a few extra square centimeters of visceral fat can lower risk for diabetes and heart disease, making this difference meaningful for health.
- 2People on the low-carb diet lost 6.3 cm² more visceral fat than those on the low-fat diet after 12 months.
- 3Men lost more than women.
- 4Insulin levels didn't change the result.
Score breakdown, methodology, conflicts of interest, evidence analysis & raw study data
Publication
Journal
International journal of obesity
Year
2025
Authors
Shawna Follis, Matthew J. Landry, Kristen M. Cunanan, Marcia L. Stefanick, Catherine P. Ward, C. Gardner
Related Content
Claims (7)
When people consume the same number of calories, changing the proportion of carbs and fats in their diet does not change how much fat or weight they lose.
Over 12 months, middle-aged adults on a healthy low-carbohydrate diet lose more visceral fat than those on a healthy low-fat diet, even when total weight loss is the same, showing that the proportion of carbohydrates and fats in the diet influences where fat is lost.
Over 12 months, middle-aged adults following a healthy low-carbohydrate diet lose more visceral fat than those following a healthy low-fat diet, with an average difference of 6.3 cm².
In middle-aged adults, the amount of insulin the body produces at baseline does not change how much visceral fat is lost when following a low-carbohydrate diet.
Over 12 months, men lose more visceral fat than women when eating a low-carbohydrate diet.
When people eat the same number of calories, a diet low in carbohydrates leads to a larger decrease in visceral fat than a diet high in carbohydrates.
Not medical advice. For informational purposes only. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional before making health decisions.