Adherence
Very low carbohydrate diets (VLCDs) are less effective for weight loss than less restrictive LCDs, but this is explained by lower adherence rather than the diet itself.
If you try a very strict low carb diet (under 50g carbs/day) and find it too hard to maintain, you might lose less weight. This isn't because the diet doesn't work, but because it's harder to stick to. If you can't maintain the strict version, a less restrictive low carb diet (under 130g/day) is a viable alternative that still offers significant benefits for diabetes remission and weight loss.
VLCDs were less effective than less restrictive LCDs for weight loss at six months. However, this effect was explained by diet adherence. That is, among highly adherent patients on VLCDs, a clinically important reduction in weight was seen compared with studies with less adherent patients on VLCDs.
Why this rating
Moderate certainty evidence for weight loss, with subgroup analysis providing context.
Source
Efficacy and safety of low and very low carbohydrate diets for type 2 diabetes remission: systematic review and meta-analysis of published and unpublished randomized trial data
Joshua Z. Goldenberg et al. · BMJ · 2021
DOI 10.1136/bmj.m4743
More from this paper
- Adhering to a low carbohydrate diet (LCD) for six months significantly increases the rate of type 2 diabetes remission compared to control diets, with moderate certainty evidence.Moderate
- The efficacy of low carbohydrate diets for diabetes remission is markedly reduced in patients who are using insulin.Moderate
Related findings · Adherence
- Regular physical activity (at least 150 minutes/week of moderate-intensity) reduces all-cause and cardiovascular mortality by 20-30% and lowers the risk of type 2 diabetes by 25-35%.Strong
- Increasing physical activity from a sedentary lifestyle to an active one in middle adulthood significantly reduces the risk of coronary events compared to remaining sedentary.Strong
- Resistance exercise is the only intervention capable of consistently restoring muscle function and strength in sarcopenia, partially overcoming age-related anabolic resistance.Strong
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 →