Research
Macro partitioning
Low-carbohydrate diets (<40% energy) are at least as effective as low-fat diets for short-term weight loss and improve triglyceride and HDL cholesterol profiles, but they increase total and LDL cholesterol levels.
If you choose a low-carb diet for weight loss, expect better triglyceride and HDL improvements than a low-fat diet, but monitor your LDL cholesterol closely as it may rise. The weight loss benefit is real in the short term (under 1 year).
GoodQualifiesHIGH confidence
Meta-analyses of randomized controlled trials revealed that low-carbohydrate diets are at least as effective as low-fat diets in terms of weight loss, but their cardiovascular effects vary. Low-carbohydrate diets confer more beneficial effects on weight loss and lipid profiles such as triglycerides and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol but exhibited detrimental effects on lipid profiles such as total and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol.
Why this rating
Based on multiple meta-analyses of RCTs cited in the review.
Source
Low-Carbohydrate Diets in Korea: Why Does It Matter, and What Is Next?
Kyungho Ha et al. · Journal of Obesity & Metabolic Syndrome · 2021
narrative_reviewCited 21×
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