Long-Term Effects of Low-Carbohydrate Versus Low-Fat Diets in Obese Persons

Abstract

Letters2 March 2010Long-Term Effects of Low-Carbohydrate Versus Low-Fat Diets in Obese PersonsMarion L. Vetter, MD, RD, Nayyar Iqbal, MD, MSCE, Cornelia Dalton-Bakes, BS, Sheri Volger, MS, RD, and Thomas A. Wadden, PhDMarion L. Vetter, MD, RDFrom Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia Veterans Affairs Medical Center, and University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19104.Search for more papers by this author, Nayyar Iqbal, MD, MSCEFrom Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia Veterans Affairs Medical Center, and University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19104.Search for more papers by this author, Cornelia Dalton-Bakes, BSFrom Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia Veterans Affairs Medical Center, and University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19104.Search for more papers by this author, Sheri Volger, MS, RDFrom Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia Veterans Affairs Medical Center, and University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19104.Search for more papers by this author, and Thomas A. Wadden, PhDFrom Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia Veterans Affairs Medical Center, and University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19104.Search for more papers by this authorAuthor, Article, and Disclosure Informationhttps://doi.org/10.7326/0003-4819-152-5-201003020-00020 SectionsAboutFull TextPDF ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload CitationsTrack CitationsPermissions ShareFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditEmail Background: We reported elsewhere (1) the results of a randomized, controlled trial that found greater weight loss at 6 months with a low-carbohydrate diet (<30 g/d) than with a calorie-restricted, low-fat diet (deficit of 500 kcal/d with <30% kcal from fat) in 132 participants with a mean weight of 130.9 kg (SD, 25.2) and a high prevalence of diabetes and the metabolic syndrome. We subsequently reported (2) no significant differences in weight loss between groups at the end of the trial (12 months).Objective: To assess outcomes after 36 months.Methods: No further intervention occurred after 12 months. At 36 ...