Low carb is better than Moderate carb for body fat loss…

 

Stupid Research on Low Moderate Carb

Guest Article by Martin MacDonald

"A low carb diet is better than moderate carb diet for body fat loss and for improving your blood cholesterol levels BUT it would be prudent to eat a moderate carb diet if you want to lose weight"… ?!?!?!?!

This is the conclusion of a study I stumbled across whilst researching for my 'Saturated Fat Series'. At this point, refer to my image on the left… if you were studying in the Department of Psychology, Saint Louis University, where this study was conducted… would you not be having words?! Where has the process of peer review gone? In fact, forget peer review, peer pressure to give up the day job is what these researchers need!

Wal et al (2007). Moderate-carbohydrate low-fat versus low-carbohydrate high-fat meal replacements for weight loss.

OBJECTIVES: To compare the efficacy of a low-carbohydrate high-fat versus a moderate-carbohydrate low-fat diet for weight loss and cardiovascular risk reduction.

METHODS:

  • Clinical intervention trial
  • 137 participants
  • Control group, Low Carbohydrate group and Moderate Carbohydrate group.

RESULTS:

  • Both the Low and Moderate Carbohydrate groups lost significantly more weight as well as inches from their waists and thighs than the Control group
  • The Low Carbohydrate group lost a greater percentage of body fat
  • The Moderate Carbohydrate group showed significant reductions in serum cholesterol
  • The Low Carbohydrate group showed the greatest improvements in serum cholesterol, triglycerides, high-density lipoprotein, low-density lipoprotein, and very-low-density lipoprotein

Low Carb/Moderate Carb Conclusions

Now this is where it gets funny. If you've read through my paraphrasing of the study you've hopefully gleaned that the higher carb group was clearly inferior to lower carb in this study. However, check out this conclusion. This is the conclusion of the abstract in its entirety.

Moderate approaches to weight loss such as a moderate-carbohydrate low-fat diet may be prudent.

At this point I'm lost for words. Well, lost for any words that wouldn't be preceded by profanities, so I'll leave it there.

So this has just been sitting waiting to be published and as I posted on Facebook yesterday, I do get so annoyed by this kind of thing but the video below just puts it all in perspective.