Low Total-Fat Intake Is Associated with Lower Weight, Body-Mass Index, and Waist Circumference

Surprisingly, the relation between fat intake and body weight is unclear. In a World Health Organization–sponsored meta-analysis of randomized trials and cohort studies, investigators determined the effect of reducing total-fat intake on body weight in people who did not intend to lose weight (e.g., studies to lower cardiovascular risk).

Thirty-three randomized trials (duration, 0.5–8.1 years; 74,000 participants) were included in the meta-analysis. The mean final weight of participants randomized to low-fat diets (most allowed ≤30% fat intake) was 1.6 kg lower than that of participants randomized to usual-fat diets — a significant difference. Greater reductions in fat intake and lower fat intake at baseline were associated with greater weig…