Re: Low-fat, high-carb diet does not cause weight gain

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> Low-fat, high-carb diet does not cause weight gain

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> Last Updated: 2006-01-03 16:00:47 -0400 (Reuters Health)

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> NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Replacing fat in the diet with

> vegetables, fruits, and whole grains does not lead to increased body

> weight in postmenopausal women, according to results of the Women's

> Health Initiative Dietary Modification Trial.

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> Some proponents of popular diets have low-fat and high-carb diets for

> the increased prevalence of obesity in the US over the past several

> decades, Dr. Barbara V. and her associates note in their

> report, published in this week's Journal of the American Medical

> Association.

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> To assess this premise, , from MedStar Research institute in

> Washington, DC, and her colleagues evaluated long-term weight changes

> among nearly 49,000 women ages 50 to 79 enrolled between 1993 and

> 1998 in the WHI trial.

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> Abut a third of the women were randomly assigned to participate in

> group and individual sessions that promoted a reduction in total

> dietary fat to 20%, at least five servings daily of fruits and

> vegetables, and six servings of grains, but no restriction in

> calories. The other women received diet- and health-related

> educational materials only.

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> During the first year, mean weight decreased significantly in the

> intervention group by 2.2 kg (p < 0.001), but not in the control

> group. Although average weight in the intervention group tended to

> increase over time, it remained below baseline and significantly

> lower by 0.5 kg than the comparison group for nine years.

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> " A low-fat dietary pattern may help attenuate the tendency for weight

> gain commonly observed in postmenopausal women, " 's team

> concludes.

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> However, editorialists from Tufts University, Dr. L.

> Dansinger and Dr. Ernst J. Schaefer, call the study's findings on

> long-term weight change " underwhelming, " and suggest that the

> intervention should have also included advice on caloric restriction

> for participants who were overweight or obese.

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> They reported in 2005 that cutting calories resulted in weight loss

> and heart disease risk factor reduction, regardless of diet type.

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> " Much more work needs to be done on the obesity front, " the Boston-

> based writers advise, " including a concerted collective effort

> focused on developing reliable methods of facilitating high long-term

> adherence levels to substantial lifestyle efforts -- specifically

> calorie-reduced eating patterns and much more exercise. "

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> SOURCE: Journal of the American Medical Association, January 4, 2006.

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> http://www.reutershealth.com/en/

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