Low-Carb and Low-Fat Diets Equally Effective For Losing Weight: Study

When it comes to losing weight, there’s only one thing people want to know: What is the best diet for dropping those extra pounds?

Low carbohydrate plans such as Atkins and Keto are popular, but many of those dieting fear fat, which is traditionally found in both diets. But a study now suggests that both low fat and low carb diets are equally effective in losing weight—as long as you’re consuming the right type of foods.

New data published Tuesday in the research journal JAMA revealed that people who followed a low-fat diet for one year lost almost 12 pounds, on average. Meanwhile, their fat-eating, low-carb counterparts dropped roughly 13 pounds. The researchers determined that food quality was even important than dietary plan.The reason? Successful dieters all consumed less sugar and refined flour and ate more vegetables.

“The bottom line: Diet quality is important for both weight control and long-term well-being,” Nutritionist Christopher Gardner of Stanford and study co-author told The New York Times.

In other words, just because a soda might be low fat, that doesn’t mean it’s a good choice for dieters.

“We made sure to tell everybody, regardless of which diet they were on, to go to the farmer’s market and don’t buy processed convenience food crap. Also, we advised them to diet in a way that didn’t make them feel hungry or deprived—otherwise it’s hard to maintain the diet in the long run,” said in a post on the university’s website.

Source: newsweek