Weight-reducing diets: are there any differences?
This paper compares the efficacy of two widely used weight-loss diets differing in macronutrient composition - a low-carbohydrate diet versus a low-fat diet. Although "a calorie is a calorie" under the controlled conditions of a metabolic unit (i.e., only the level of calorie intake matters and not the source of calories), we conclude that these interrelationships are far more complex in the free-living situation. The different diet-related factors that condition energy balance, including total energy intake, satiety and hunger sensory triggers, and palatability, must be considered when assessing the efficacy of weight-reducing diets of different macronutrient composition.
Foreyt
John P
JP
Department of Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas 77030, USA. jforeyt@bcm.edu
Salas-Salvado
Jordi
J
Caballero
Benjamin
B
Bulló
Monica
M
Gifford
K Dun
KD
Bautista
Inmaculada
I
Serra-Majem
Lluis
L
D050528:Diet, Carbohydrate-Restricted / Q000009:adverse effects; D018752:Diet, Fat-Restricted; D004038:Diet, Reducing / Q000592:standards; D004040:Dietary Carbohydrates / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000378:metabolism; D004041:Dietary Fats / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000378:metabolism; D004044:Dietary Proteins / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D009765:Obesity / Q000178:diet therapy* / Q000378:metabolism; D010349:Patient Compliance; D012528:Satiety Response / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D015431:Weight Loss / Q000502:physiology*
D004040:Dietary Carbohydrates; D004041:Dietary Fats; D004044:Dietary Proteins