Research

Hormonal

An ad libitum reduced-glycemic load (GL) diet produces greater reductions in body mass index (BMI) and fat mass in obese adolescents compared to an energy-restricted reduced-fat diet.

For obese teens, switching to a diet focused on low-glycemic load foods (like nonstarchy vegetables, fruits, legumes, nuts, and dairy) without counting calories can lead to better fat loss than traditional calorie-restricted low-fat diets. This approach works by managing hunger hormones, allowing teens to eat until satisfied while naturally reducing energy intake, which may improve adherence by respecting their need for autonomy.

ModerateSupportsMEDIUM confidence
At 12 months, mean±SEM BMI (−1.3±0.7 vs 0.7±0.5; P=.02) and fat mass (−3.0±1.6 vs 1.8±1.0 kg; P=.01) had decreased more in the experimental compared with the conventional group.
Cara B. Ebbeling et al. · Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine · 2003

Why this rating

Randomized controlled trial, but small sample size (n=16) and short duration (12 months).

Source

A Reduced–Glycemic Load Diet in the Treatment of Adolescent Obesity

Cara B. Ebbeling et al. · Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine · 2003

DOI 10.1001/archpedi.157.8.773

rct · n=16Cited 436×
Read the paper
DOI resolved against Crossref · corpus check 2026-06-10

This is one finding among thousands. Every one is graded and traced to its source, so you can see what the evidence actually supports. Browse the research →