title: Impact of carbohydrates on weight regain.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Research on obesity treatment has shifted its focus from weight loss to weight-loss maintenance strategies. The conventional approach of a low-fat diet is challenged by insights from glycemic effects of carbohydrates on body weight regulation.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Metabolic and endocrine adaptations to weight loss that contribute to weight regain involve reduced energy expenditure, increased insulin sensitivity, and enhanced orexigenic signals. This review summarizes the impact of carbohydrates on energetic efficiency, partitioning of weight regain as fat and lean mass, and appetite control. Both the amount and frequency of postprandial glycemia add to body weight regulation after weight loss and strengthen the concept of glycemic index and glycemic load. In addition, dietary fiber and slowly or poorly absorbable functional sugars modify gastrointestinal peptides involved in appetite and metabolic regulation and exert prebiotic effects.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Current evidence suggests that a low-glycemic load diet with a preference for low-glycemic index foods and integration of slowly digestible, poorly absorbable carbohydrates may improve weight-loss maintenance. Future studies should investigate the health benefits of low glycemic functional sweeteners (e.g., isomaltulose and tagatose).
authors.affiliation: aInstitute of Nutritional Medicine, University Hohenheim, Stuttgart bInstitute of Human Nutrition and Food Science, Christian-Albrechts University of Kiel, Kiel, Germany.
authors.forename: Anja
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bosy-Westphal
authors.forename: Manfred J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Müller
mesh_terms: D001069:Appetite Regulation; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D018752:Diet, Fat-Restricted; D004040:Dietary Carbohydrates / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D004043:Dietary Fiber / Q000008:administration & dosage; D004734:Energy Metabolism; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005947:Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D038321:Glycemic Index; D000067940:Glycemic Load; D006706:Homeostasis; D006801:Humans; D007333:Insulin Resistance; D009765:Obesity / Q000178:diet therapy; D019518:Postprandial Period; D015430:Weight Gain; D015431:Weight Loss
chemical_list: D001786:Blood Glucose; D004040:Dietary Carbohydrates; D004043:Dietary Fiber; D005947:Glucose