Adherence

Combining high adherence to a macronutrient-restricted diet (low-carb or low-fat) with high dietary quality yields significantly greater weight loss than either factor alone or low adherence/quality.

If you are following a low-carb or low-fat diet, your weight loss success depends heavily on two things: how closely you stick to the diet (adherence) and how nutritious the food is (quality). Simply cutting carbs or fat without focusing on whole foods and dietary quality may not lead to significant weight loss. To maximize results, aim for both high adherence to your chosen macronutrient limits and high dietary quality (e.g., high Healthy Eating Index score).