No Difference in Weight Loss Between Low-Fat and Low-Carbohydrate Diets

Studies suggest that different patients might respond quite differently to low-fat (LF) versus low-carbohydrate (LC) diets. In this study, investigators explored whether genetic profiles or insulin sensitivity are associated with variability in fat and carbohydrate metabolism. A total of 609 overweight and obese adults (mean age, 40; mean body-mass index, 33 kg/m²) were tested for three single nucleotide polymorphisms that are thought to be associated with responsiveness to LF or LC diet, as well as baseline insulin sensitivity. Participants were randomized to healthy LF or LC diets, both emphasizing vegetables with minimal added sugar, processed foods, and refined flour. The LF diet was composed of 29% of calories from fat and 48% from car…