Cutting carbs is more effective than low-fat diet for insulin-resistant women

[n2doc]

Published: Saturday, June 19, 2010 - 13:22 in Health & Medicine
Obese women with insulin resistance lose more weight after three months on a lower-carbohydrate diet than on a traditional low-fat diet with the same number of calories, according to a new study. The results will be presented Saturday at The Endocrine Society's 92nd Annual Meeting in San Diego. "The typical diet that physicians recommend for weight loss is a low-fat diet," said the study's lead author, Raymond Plodkowski, MD, chief of endocrinology, nutrition and metabolism at the University of Nevada School of Medicine, Reno. "However, as this study shows, not all people have the same response to diets."

People with insulin resistance, a common precursor for Type 2 diabetes, metabolize carbohydrates, or "carbs," abnormally, which may affect their rate of weight loss. For them, Plodkowski said, "the lower-carb diet is more effective, at least in the short term."

At 12-weeks, the study funded by Jenny Craig and using prepared calorie-controlled meals as part of a behavioral weight loss program, found that the insulin resistant women on a lower-carb diet lost 3.4 pounds more than those on a low-fat diet.

Forty-five obese women between the ages of 18 and 65 years participated in the study, and all had insulin resistance, as found by fasting blood levels of insulin. The researchers randomly assigned the women to either a low-fat or lower-carb diet. The groups did not differ significantly in average body weight, the authors reported. On average, women in the low-fat diet group weighed 213 pounds, while women in the other group weighed 223 pounds.

more

http://esciencenews.com/articles/2010/06/19/cutting.carbs.more.effective.low.fat.diet.insulin.resistant.women

[FormerDittoHead]

1. Note to those who don't know - THEY'RE NOT TALKING ATKINS.

Atkins is a VERY low carb diet which only works if you put your body into a state of Ketosis:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ketosis

This article describes a diet which REDUCES carbs but doesn't bring them down to the levels of a "low carb diet".

A typical Atkins dieter would consume no more than 60 grams of carbohydrate a day. That's just about a maximum, AFTER Ketosis is reached.

This test refers to adjusting ones proportion of carbs, however, it came short of giving enough specifics (like, how many total calories a day?) to make a real apples to apples comparison.

I'm thinking you'll have to wait for the book. sigh.

[hlthe2b]

3. No... they are talking diet similar to South Beach

[Jennicut]

2. I am type 1 but I was put on a carb counting right away.

15 for snacks, 30 to 60 per meal.
Typical diabetic diet. Of course, I need insulin no matter what, sometimes less of it depending on what I eat.

[eShirl]

4. k&r

[TexasProgresive]

5. DUH!

It's amazing the things they have to study. If you do a low fat diet then carbs will increase causing increases in blood sugar.

[flamingdem]

6. I think it's not just the Carbs - it's the addiction to Carbs and pancreatic response

so once you get started snacking whew!

Anyway that's my downfall. Appreciate any and all info to work on curbing that excess.

[K8-EEE]

7. In Europe I noticed less preoccupation with diet and diet food

And WAY less fat people.....I think it's that they eat less processed stuff in smaller portions, and don't drive so much. Here in the US we certainly do seem to have problems eating without making ourselves unhealthy.

[MorningGlow]

8. It's the only thing that works for me

I can eat like a bird, but if I include potatoes, pasta, or non-whole-grain bread in ANY amount, I blow up like a balloon--bloating as well as weight. When I quit the carbs, my abdomen literally deflates. It's amazing.

I've been on a low-carb diet (given to me by my doctor) for about 2 1/2 months and have lost 15 lbs. I have 15 more to go and I think I can reach it easily, likely by fall or perhaps the end of the year (I do tend to cave to ice cream once in a while in the summer--can't help it). The great thing about this diet is although I can't have some of my favorite foods, I'm eating CONSTANTLY because I have to have certain other types of food every day. Sometimes it's a chore to eat everything that's required. I'm never hungry.

But damn, I wish I could have a big ol' plate of spaghetti sometimes.