Low-Carb vs. Low-Fat Diet

A number of randomized clinical trials have compared weight loss after 6 months or a year after Low-carb diets vs. Low fat diets. At 6 months, there are differences in percent weight loss, with low-carb diets leading in percent loss. After one year, weight loss was similar between groups, but a low-carbohydrate diet was better with regard to dyslipidemia and glycemic control after adjustment for differences in weight loss.

The following table summarizes some of these studies.

Study

Duration (months)

% Wt. Loss

Low-Carb

% Wt Loss

Low-Fat

P Value

Brehm

J Clin Endo Metab

2003

6

-9.32

-4.22

<0.001

Samaha

NEJM 2003

6

-4.46

-1.44

0.002

Yancy

Ann int med 2004

6

-12.9

-6.7

<0.001

Foster

NEJM 2003

6

-7.0

-3.2

0.02

12

-4.4

-2.5

0.26 NS

Samaha

Ann Int Med 2004

12

-3.9

-2.3

NS

Truby

BMJ

2006

6

-6.2

-7.3

<.001

Gardner

JAMA 2007

(% BMI)*

6

12

-2.16*

-1.65*

-0.85*

-0.77*

NS

0.01

Foster

Ann Int Med 2010

12

24

-10.87

-6.34

-10.81

-7.37

0.95 NS

0.41 NS