Science Says This Is The Best Kind Of Diet To Opt For If Fat Loss Is Your Goal

One scroll through Instagram or Twitter throws up countless different pieces of advice about fitness, weight loss and the best way to achieve your dieting goals. With so much information out there, it’s easy to lose sight of the basics.

Before you go embarking on a tailored raw Paleo detox or subbing fresh pressed juice in for two meals a day, take things back a step and make your focus a bit more general.

According to a new study by the Harvard School of Public Health, a successful diet could hinge on something as simple as choosing one food group over another. Researchers analysed data from 53 separate clinic trials and studies, with a combined total of over 60,000 participants, and noted one interesting finding along the way: a low-carb diet is a more effective plan for dropping body fat than a low-fat diet is.

Overall, participants who chose a diet low in carbs lost 2.5lbs more than those on a low-fat diet.

“Compared with low-fat diets, participants in low-carbohydrate weight loss interventions were about two and a half pounds lighter after follow-up of at least one year,” the study states. Regardless of diet type though, the average weight loss after one year was no more than 6lbs.

In fact, low-fat diets were only more successful when compared against “usual diet” participants, that is, those who didn’t change their eating habits at all.

So there you have it. A low-fat diet might be better than snacking on crisps and cake all the time, but if you’re keen to drop fat and maintain a lower weight, it might be worth looking in a low-carb option instead.

• diet
• fat loss
• weight loss