Weight Loss Is Greater with Low-Carbohydrate Than with Low-Fat Diets

Low-carbohydrate diets are increasingly popular, but concerns have arisen that such diets, compared with traditional low-fat diets, might have adverse cardiovascular (CV) consequences. To evaluate the effects of both diets on weight and CV risk factors, U.S. researchers randomized 148 adults (mean age, 47; mean body-mass index, 35 kg/m²; 51% black; none with CV disease or diabetes) to either a diet that limited carbohydrates to <40 g daily or a diet in which <30% of daily energy intake came from fats (<7% from saturated fat). Participants met regularly with dieticians and were followed for 1 year; no caloric intake goals were given, and participants were asked not to change their physical activity levels.

During the trial, total energy intak…