Diet Studies Confirm Basics

Posted by: Curt | Under: 40's/fit, 50's/fit, Children/fit, Diet and Weight Loss, General Fitness, Health, Ladies/fit, Prime/fit, Seniors/fit, Travel/fit, Youth/fit | (0) Comments

Several diet studies that Alwyn Cosgrove sites on his blog confirm what many of us in the fitness world have known all along- lower carbs, lower calories and increased meal frequency (see my 6 meal/day diet) make a big difference in weight loss. Bodybuilders have used this formula to get ready for competitions for many years. When you add them all together, you get a synergistic effect. Here are a few excerpts that are particularly interesting-

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This study compared two groups – one following a 4% carbohydrate diet, and one following a 35% carbohydrate diet. After 4 weeks the 4% carbohydrate group had lost 14lbs while the 35% group had lost 9.5lbs. The interesting thing was that the participants were allowed to eat as much food as they wanted within the nutritional guidelines.

…This one showed that adults who were accustomed to eating 4 meals a day gained body fat and weight when switched to 3 meals a day (despite calories remaining the same). it seems that meal frequency is an important tool.

…Three groups on different diets for 12 weeks:

Low fat/low cal (1800 cals per day) diet: Lost on average 17 lbs
Low carb/higher cal (+300) group: Lost on average 20 lbs.
But when they combined low carbs AND low calories (1800 again) – that group lost 23lbs.
Conclusion – it might not be just about the calories – but calories STILL count!