Low-fat diet causes similar weight loss as low-carb diet following weight loss surgery

Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
Wednesday, June 02, 2010 7:05 am Email this article
Patients who underwent laparoscopic gastric bypass weight loss surgery lost a similar amount of weight whether they were following a low-carbohydrate, high-protein diet or a low-fat, high-carbohydrate diet according to a new study from researchers at the University of Virginia Health System in Charlottesville, Virginia, USA. BMI Reduction

BMI reduction: 17 unit reduction on low-carb diet, 14 unit reduction on low-fat diet

Those assigned to a low-carbohydrate, high-protein diet based on the South Beach Diet reduced their body mass index (BMI) by an average of 17 units after one year compared to a decrease of 14 units for those assigned to a low-fat, high-carbohydrate diet as recommended by the American Heart Association.

 

Excess Body Weight Lost

Excess body weight lost: 60% for both groups

The amount of excess body weight that was lost was the same, both groups losing 60 percent of their excess body weight.

 

Conclusion

Conclusion: No weight loss advantage to low-carb diet following weight loss surgery

“Based on this limited prospective study, no weight loss advantage is observed in substituting a low-carbohydrate, high-protein diet in place of a standard low-fat diet in patients who have undergone laparoscopic gastric bypass surgery,” the authors of the study concluded.

 

Subjects

Subjects: 32 patients

The study involved 32 patients who had undergone the surgery.

Nineteen (19) were assigned to the low-carbohydrate, high-protein group, and 13 were assigned to the low-fat, high-carbohydrate diet.

REFERENCE

Swenson B, Saalwachter Schulman A, Edwards M, Gross M, Hedrick T, Weltman A, Northrup C, Schirmer B, Sawyer R. The effect of a low-carbohydrate, high-protein diet on post laparoscopic gastric bypass weight loss: A prospective randomized trial. J Surg Res. 2007 Jul 11.

AUTHOR’S CORRESPONDENCE

Department of Surgery
University of Virginia Health System
Charlottesville, Virginia
USA

Articles on the same subject can be found here:

• Low Carbohydrate Diets

• Low Fat Diets

• Weight loss surgery