Which diet helps obese women lose more weight?
A randomized trial comparing a very low carbohydrate diet and a calorie-restricted low fat diet on body weight and cardiovascular risk factors in healthy women.
Not medical advice. For informational purposes only. Always consult a healthcare professional. Terms
Surprising Findings
The low-carb group lost more than double the body fat than the low-fat group, even though both ate similar calories.
Most people believe calorie deficit alone determines fat loss—this suggests macronutrient composition (low carb) may uniquely enhance fat mobilization.
Practical Takeaways
If you're a healthy obese woman struggling to lose weight on low-fat diets, try a very low-carb approach without strict calorie counting—focus on whole foods and avoid sugar/starches.
Not medical advice. For informational purposes only. Always consult a healthcare professional. Terms
Surprising Findings
The low-carb group lost more than double the body fat than the low-fat group, even though both ate similar calories.
Most people believe calorie deficit alone determines fat loss—this suggests macronutrient composition (low carb) may uniquely enhance fat mobilization.
Practical Takeaways
If you're a healthy obese woman struggling to lose weight on low-fat diets, try a very low-carb approach without strict calorie counting—focus on whole foods and avoid sugar/starches.
Publication
Journal
The Journal of clinical endocrinology and metabolism
Year
2003
Authors
B. Brehm, R. Seeley, S. Daniels, D. D’Alessio
Related Content
Claims (7)
For women who are obese but otherwise healthy, eating very few carbs or eating fewer calories with less fat both help lower blood pressure, cholesterol, and blood sugar about the same amount — neither diet wins by a noticeable margin.
If you're a healthy woman with obesity and you eat very few carbs for 6 months, you'll likely lose more weight and body fat than if you eat low-fat foods — even if both diets have the same number of calories.
If you're a healthy woman with obesity and you eat very few carbs for 6 months, you'll likely lose more weight and body fat than if you eat low-fat foods — even if you're eating the same number of calories in both cases.
If you're a healthy woman with obesity and you eat very few carbs for six months, your blood pressure, cholesterol, and blood sugar won't get worse than if you ate less fat instead — and both diets help you just about the same.
If a woman who is overweight but otherwise healthy eats very few carbs for three months, her body starts making more of a fuel called beta-hydroxybutyrate — this means her body is switching to burning fat for energy instead of carbs.