Why eating fewer carbs might help you burn more calories after losing weight
During weight-loss maintenance, energy expenditure was higher with lower-carbohydrate diets
Not medical advice. For informational purposes only. Always consult a healthcare professional. Terms
Surprising Findings
Low-carb diets increased energy expenditure by 190 kcal/day without any change in physical activity.
Common belief is that metabolism slows down after weight loss, and all diets lead to similar calorie burn. This study shows diet composition can reverse that slowdown—contradicting the 'a calorie is a calorie' model.
Practical Takeaways
If you’ve lost weight and are struggling to keep it off, consider a moderate-to-low carb approach (e.g., 30-40% carbs) to potentially boost daily calorie burn.
Not medical advice. For informational purposes only. Always consult a healthcare professional. Terms
Surprising Findings
Low-carb diets increased energy expenditure by 190 kcal/day without any change in physical activity.
Common belief is that metabolism slows down after weight loss, and all diets lead to similar calorie burn. This study shows diet composition can reverse that slowdown—contradicting the 'a calorie is a calorie' model.
Practical Takeaways
If you’ve lost weight and are struggling to keep it off, consider a moderate-to-low carb approach (e.g., 30-40% carbs) to potentially boost daily calorie burn.
Publication
Journal
Annals of Internal Medicine
Year
2019
Authors
S. Kahan
Related Content
Claims (5)
For every 10% less carbs someone eats after losing weight, their body burns about 52 extra calories a day — like adding a short walk to their daily routine.
After losing weight, people on very low-carb diets have higher levels of the hunger hormone ghrelin than those on high-carb diets, which might make them feel hungrier.
After losing weight, people on low-carb diets have less of the fullness hormone leptin than those on high-carb diets, which might make them feel less full.
After losing weight, whether you eat low-carb, medium-carb, or high-carb doesn’t change how much you move around — people stay just as active no matter what diet they’re on.
After losing weight, people who eat very little carbs burn about 190 more calories per day than those who eat a lot of carbs, even when they’re eating the same amount of food and not exercising more.