Weight Loss — Low Fat or Carbohydrate Diet?

Lydia Bazzano
Jul 23, 2017 · 2 min read

A medical researcher interested in nutrition, Dr. Lydia Bazzano’s studies have appeared in some of the most highly-ranked scholarly journals. For instance, Dr. Lydia Bazzano is the lead author of a National Institutes of Health-funded study published in the Annals of Internal Medicine; it suggests that a low-carbohydrate diet results in more effective weight loss than a low-fat diet.

When people think of weight-loss or dieting, they often consider a low-fat approach to reduce their caloric intake. However, contemporary research increasingly demonstrates that the low-fat, low-calorie strategy leads to short-lived weight loss, as people usually regain the pounds over the long term.

One theory as to the reason for this weight-gain effect centers on how the body responds to the reduced caloric intake and hunger that dieting can precipitate. Some experts believe that dieters’ bodies respond as if dieters are starving, meaning the body tries to burn fewer calories and store more fat in an energy-conservation frenzy.

How can dieters prevent this state of affairs? Studies indicate that diets rich in healthy fats and lower in carbohydrates may offer a path toward sustainable weight loss. These studies present evidence that indicates healthy fats can work to abate hunger and impart a feeling of fullness, which in turn may reassure the body that it’s not at risk of starving.

Lydia Bazzano
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