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STUDY LOOKS AT LOW-CARB DIETS
The first large review study of low-carbohydrate diets reveals that people on
diets of 60 or fewer grams of carbohydrates a day (a threshold used in some of
the popular low-carbohydrate diets) did lose weight. But the weight loss was
associated with restriction of caloric intake and longer diet duration, not with
reduced carbohydrate intake.
“Low-carbohydrate diets have been extremely popular as of late, and the lay
press has suggested they’re a safe and effective means of weight loss,” said
lead author Dena Bravata, MD. “While these diets are effective in the short
term, weight loss results from reduced calories, not carbohydrate restriction.”
“The findings suggest that if you want to lose weight, you should eat fewer
calories and do so over a long time period” stressed Dr. Bravata.
As part of the analysis, investigators from Stanford University Medical Center
and Yale University reviewed a total of 107 diet studies, which involved 3,268
people from around the world.
JAMA – April 9, 2003;289:1837-50. http://jama.ama-assn.org/
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