title: The unique merits of a low-fat diet for weight control.
abstract: The virtual freedom from obesity enjoyed by many primitive societies may be traceable to the low fat content of their traditional diets. Recent studies indicate that humans have a very limited capacity for de novo lipogenesis from dietary carbohydrate; this implies that it should be easy to achieve negative fat balance if dietary fat intake is kept low and fat oxidation is promoted by regular exercise. Overfeeding with carbohydrate--but not with fat--provokes an insulin-mediated thermogenesis which acts to retard weight gain. Low-fat starchy foods have a relatively low caloric density, resulting in lower caloric consumption with meals. Once absorbed, carbohydrate has greater satiety value than fat. These considerations suggest that avoidance of dietary fat may be a more successful approach to weight control than "calorie counting". The efficacy of low-fat diets may be promoted by supplementary carnitine, which stimulates fat oxidation, and by chromium, which aids insulin-mediated thermogenesis. An unrefined low-fat diet, eaten to satiety and accompanied by regular exercise, may be the ideal means of maintaining a trim figure throughout life while minimizing one's risk for "Western" degenerative diseases.
mesh_terms: D001481:Basal Metabolism; D001835:Body Weight; D004040:Dietary Carbohydrates / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000378:metabolism; D004041:Dietary Fats / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009765:Obesity / Q000628:therapy
chemical_list: D004040:Dietary Carbohydrates; D004041:Dietary Fats