Keywords

body mass index (BMI), low-carbohydrate diet, obesity

 

Authors

  1. Rushing, Keith PhD, RD
  2. Stenhouse, Andrew MD, FACP
  3. Evans, Misty MD
  4. Huffman, Lynn PhD, RD
  5. Bowie, Venita PharmD

Abstract

This 21-week study compared a low-carbohydrate diet (20-g carbohydrate restriction) and a low-calorie diet (1100 calories, 30% fat, 55% carbohydrate, and 15% protein) for treating overweight/obesity in adults. All participants received routine diet education and measurement of weight, blood pressure, and body fat. Quantitative analysis included 2-tailed sample t tests. The sample size dropped from 108 to 22 (a 79% decrease) between the first day and last day of the study. Weight, body fat, and blood pressure improved significantly for the combined diet groups (P < .025); however, there were no significant differences between diet groups (P > .025). The results suggest that a low-carbohydrate diet may be appropriate for treating overweight and obesity in some adults.