Study: Low-Carb Burns Twice As Much Body Fat As Low-Fat

Dr. Brehm found that low-carb produces greater weight loss than low-fat

Why is it that any POSITIVE news about livin' la vida low-carb is generally only found in foreign news sources? Hmmm?

This PakTribune story details an exciting study that shows a low-carb diet like Atkins produces greater weight loss in obese women over a four-month period than the low-fat diet.

Led by Dr. Bonnie J. Brehm, a dietician and nutrition professor at the University of Cincinnati School of Nursing, this four-month study involved 50 moderately obese women who were randomly placed on either a low-carbohydrate diet or a low-fat diet. Additionally, the low-fat diet group had to cut back on their calories (poor ladies!).

At the end of the four-month period, 80 percent of the women had completed the study and the study participants in both groups lost both total body weight and body fat, the researchers noted.

However, the group that was on a low-carb diet lost more than 10 percent of their body weight (22 total pounds, 14 pounds of stored body fat) compared with 7 percent for the low-fat diet group (14 total pounds, 7 pounds of stored body fat). The low-carb diet group lost TWICE as much body fat as the low-fat diet group during the study.

As for physical activity during the study, it was estimated by using pedometers on each of the study participants that there was "no significant change" or difference between the two groups.

Additionally, resting energy expenditure between both groups remained constant throughout the duration of the study. The thermic effect of food measured right after the women ate showed the low-fat diet group expended more energy in a five-hour period despite eating about the same amount of calories as the low-carb diet group.

The results of this study appear in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism.

Dr. Brehm said she was confused by the difference in weight loss between the two groups.

"The differential weight loss is not explained by differences in resting energy expenditure, thermic effect of food or physical activity," she stated.

She even wondered if the low-carb diet group was so energized by their weight loss success that they increased their energy output.

"If it’s not calories in, it must be calories out," Dr. Brehm surmised.

The researchers concluded that the low-fat meal was being absorbed faster than the low-carb meal and the weight loss difference "likely reflects underreporting of food consumption by the low-fat dieters."

Hmmm. Could it be those high-carb, low-fat diets were making the study participants in that group HUNGRIER?! I just can't imagine that ever happening. LOL! Meanwhile, the low-carb diet group was eating tasty foods that satisfied their appetite while helping them shed the pounds. If you ever needed confirmation that low-carb is better for weight loss than low-fat and causes a lot less misery, then here it is compliments of Dr. Brehm and her research team.

"These results confirm that short-term weight loss is greater in obese women on a low-carbohydrate diet than in those on a low-fat diet even when reported food intake is similar," Brehm concluded.

Of course, those of us who are livin' la vida low-carb already knew this was true, but it's nice to see science finally catching up to what's happening in the real world when people put the basic principles of carbohydrate restriction to work. I'll never have to worry about weighing over 400 pounds ever again because of this amazing weight loss plan that will keep me healthy and energetic for many years to come.

Send your gratitude to Dr. Bonnie Brehm for her excellent research comparing the low-fat diet to low-carb by e-mailing her at bonnie.brehm@uc.edu.