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

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

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

gain commonly observed in postmenopausal women, " 's team

concludes.

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.

They reported in 2005 that cutting calories resulted in weight loss

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

" 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. "

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

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