Weight regain after 6 months similar with low-fat, monounsaturated fat or control diets: 5-8 lbs

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Friday, November 07, 2008 1:19 am Email this article
People who had lost an average of 27 pounds in two months on a low-calorie diet of 800-1000 calories per day, regained a similar amount of weight when they were fed a low-fat diet, a high monounsaturated fat diet or a control diet according to a study from Denmark.

Subjects in the low-fat group regained an average of 4.8 pounds in six months.

Subjects in the high monounsaturated fat group regained an average of 5.5 pounds in six months.

Subjects in the control group regained an average of 8.4 pounds.
Conclusion

Conclusion: None of the diet superior to one another at maintaining weight loss

“In conclusion, none of the tested diets were superior to one another in maintaining weight loss,” the authors of the study concluded.

“The favorable effects of a low-fat diet (ie, lower body fat regain) and of the new Healthy Eating Pyramid diet (on diabetes and cardiovascular disease risk factors) may not turn out to be very important if the weight is eventually regained.

“The real challenge is to maintain body weight loss and to prevent subsequent relapse.

“We need to look further than diet composition and other factors such as physical activity, and eating behavior needs to be taken into consideration for the prevention of obesity.”

 

Subjects

Subjects: 131 people

The study finished with 131 overweight and obese people who were 18- to 35-years-old with an average body mass index (BMI) of 31.

 

Gender

Gender: 55 men, 76 women

Subjects included 55 men and 76 women.

 

Diet Composition

Diet composition: 40% protein, 40% carbs, 20% fat

The diet contained approximately 40 percent protein, 40 percent carbohydrates and 20 percent fat.

REFERENCE

Due A, Larsen TM, Mu H, Hermansen K, Stender S, Astrup A. Comparison of 3 ad libitum diets for weight-loss maintenance, risk of cardiovascular disease, and diabetes: A 6-mo randomized, controlled trial. Am J Clin Nutr. 2008 Apr, 87(4):1232-41.

AUTHOR’S CONTACT INFORMATION

Arne Astrup
Department of Human Nutrition
Centre for Advanced Food Studies
Faculty of Life Sciences
University of Copenhagen
Frederiksberg C, Denmark
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Articles on the same subject can be found here:

• Low Calorie Diet