Macro partitioning
Long-term adherence to a low-carbohydrate (LC) diet (defined as <45% energy from carbs) results in significant weight regain and increased triglyceride levels compared to a low-fat (LF) diet in overweight or obese adults.
If you are trying to lose weight long-term, a strict low-carb diet (<45% carbs) may not be better than a low-fat diet and could actually lead to more weight regain and higher triglycerides after a year. Focus on sustainable calorie restriction and food quality rather than extreme macronutrient restriction. Low-fat diets showed better or equivalent long-term weight maintenance and lipid profiles in this review.
After 12 months, low carbohydrate diet (LC) showed significant increment in body weight (weighted mean difference, 1.22kg: 95% confidence interval (CI), 0.17 to 2.28, P=0.02) and triglyceride (TG) value (weighted mean difference, 0.11mmol/L, 95% CI: 0.02, 0.19, P=0.01).
Why this rating
Based on a systematic review of 9 RCTs with 1016 participants, though limited by heterogeneity in diet definitions and dropout rates.
Source
A Systematic Review on Long Term Effects of Weight Loss Diet on Body Weight and Lipid Profile: Findings from Randomized Controlled Trials
Nurul Umirah Abdul Manaf et al. · Universal Journal of Public Health · 2018
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