Idealogian

Low-Carb Backlash

Study: Low-fat vs. low-carb

Regardless of how they shed pounds in the first place, big losers stayed that way by limiting fat rather than carbohydrates, according to new research that could add fuel to the backlash against low-carb diets.

Dieters already have been turning away from Atkins-style plans as a long-term weight-control strategy, and the new study gives them more reason: Low-fat plans seem to work better at keeping weight off.

"People who started eating more fat ... regained the most weight over time," said Suzanne Phelan, a Brown Medical School psychologist who presented results of the study Monday at a meeting of the North American Association for the Study of Obesity.

. . .

The type of diet -- low-fat, low-carb or in between -- made no difference in how people lost weight initially.

But those who increased their fat intake over a year regained the most weight. That meant they ate less carbohydrates, because the amount of protein in their diets stayed the same, Phelan said.

"Only a minority of successful weight losers consume low-carbohydrate diets," she and the other researchers concluded.

Reminds me of a recently overheard conversation (modified slightly):

D: I should go on one of those new diets, you know, Atkins or South Beach. But, just for a short while, till I've lost maybe 15, 20 pounds. I probably don't need to stay on it more than a couple of months.

R: And then you'd just stop? Would you go back to your old eating habits, or would you make any changes?

D: Oh, of course there'd be changes. I'd have to make up for lost time. :-)