A US-based study, conducted by the National Institute of Health, analyzed two groups on two different diet plans: fats and carbohydrates. The researchers inspected their subjects’ data, from food intake and exercise (time and amount) to small details such as breathing.
The research involved 19 over-weight subjects. They were originally set on 2700 calories a day and within a period of 14 days the researchers reduced the subjects’ consumption by 1/3rd. The amount of nitrogen in urine and the carbon dioxide and oxygen being breathed out was also calculated by the researchers to understand the chemical processes taking place within the body.
Although both diet plans showed positive relations with cutting calories and fat loss, but subjects who had reduced fat intake in diet showed comparatively noticeable results.
The results of the study showed that carbohydrate check led to constant increase in fat oxidation and loss of 53 ± 6 g/day of body fat, whereas fat oxidation was unchanged by fat restraint, leading to 89 ± 6 g/day of fat loss.
Doctors had previously debated that limiting carbs was the best approach of getting rid from LDL (bad fat), altering metabolism and getting in good shape. However, this diet plan needs to be revised.
The current study did agrees with the principle that lower levels of carbohydrates lead to lower levels of insulin, and eventually lower levels of fats, as the process enables fat being released from the body – but researchers argue that why should one go for a carb reduction diet plan, when one could lose more body fats by cutting out fat from diet plan.
The researcher concluded that even though low fat consumption had shown better results, in practical life, things are different and people are not bound to act as controlled subjects. There suggestion is that the best diet for weight loss would only be one which the individual plans to stick to – be it carb or fats – but sticking to a diet is easier said than done.
The research, Calorie for Calorie, Dietary Fat Restriction Results in More Body Fat Loss than Carbohydrate Restriction in People with Obesity, was published in the research journal Cell Metabolism.