Research
Macro partitioning
Low-carbohydrate diets (LCDs) and low-fat diets (LFDs) result in equivalent weight loss when caloric restriction is matched, though LCDs may be preferred for patients with insulin resistance.
Whether you choose low-carb or low-fat, the key is sticking to a calorie deficit. If you have insulin resistance or type 2 diabetes, a low-carb approach might offer additional metabolic benefits, but for general weight loss, both are equally effective if calories are matched.
GoodQualifiesHIGH confidence
a compilation of relevant studies done by an expert panel in 2013 concluded that consumption of a carbohydrate-restricted diet resulted in equivalent weight loss as a low-fat diet with comparable calorie restriction [55].
Why this rating
Supported by multiple RCTs and meta-analyses cited in the paper.
Source
Diets and drugs for weight loss and health in obesity – An update
Jan Aaseth et al. · Biomedicine & Pharmacotherapy · 2021
DOI 10.1016/j.biopha.2021.111789
narrative_reviewCited 174×
Read the paper DOI resolved against Crossref · corpus check 2026-06-10
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