andrewducker (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
andrewducker) wrote2003-05-22 11:10 am
andrewducker) wrote2003-05-22 11:10 am
Atkins
More on the carbs stuff. Two major studies have come out today on Low Carb diets.
Details here.
Details here.
• After six months, the Atkins dieters lost an average 15 pounds; conventional dieters, 7 pounds.
• After a year, the Atkins followers kept off 9½ pounds; the conventional dieters kept off 5½. This difference is not considered statistically significant.
• At the end of the year, the Atkins dieters had an 18% increase in HDL (good) cholesterol, compared with 3% increase for the other group; Atkins dieters had a 28% drop in triglycerides (blood fats), while others had a 1% increase. Neither group had changes in LDL (bad) cholesterol.
no subject
It might help to make this bit make more sense if I add that why it wasn't statistically significant was that almost half of people had dropped out of the study (and one presumes the diet) by then.
BBC (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/3044689.stm) has more details on the whole thing including the macronutrient breakdown of the lowcal diet.
Other provisos:
This study was done on severly overweight people (200+ plus). Wieght/fat loss patterns are different in the seriously obese as compared to the slightly chubby.
Also they only measured weight, not bodyfat - which is nearly pointless.
The weight losses were, IMHO, very pathetic. Better than nothing, but still not great. I can lose a stone in 6/7 weeks when I put my mind to it. Many very fat folks lose 50-100lbs in a year and some of them even keep it off.
Excerise is, of course key, but this study doesn't even mention it in passing! Good study for the diets, terrible study if you want to investigate good fat loss.
The triglycerides thing is interesting.
They calorie controlled both groups (I think) which is great for statistical rigour (but, not, as I understand it, how the actual Atkins plan does it, relying instead upon the appetite supression properties of a high fat/protein diet).
m
no subject