Weight Loss Diet Study: Low Carb vs Low Fat

Summary

The traditional weight loss diet recommended by health professionals has been a low-fat, high-carbohydrate, calorie restricted diet. This recommendation has been challenged by a number of alternative dietary strategies, particularly low-carbohydrate diets. In several recent weight loss studies insulin resistant adults had more success with low- vs. high-carbohydrate diets, in contrast to insulin sensitive adults who had either more success or comparable success with the low-fat diets. The investigators enrolled 61 people with a wide range of insulin sensitivity/resistance. After determining their insulin resistance status, the investigators will split them in the middle and randomly assign them to one of four groups for six months: (1) Low-Carbohydrate/Insulin Resistant (LC/IR); (2) Low-Carbohydrate/Insulin Sensitive (LC/IS); (3) Low-Fat/Insulin Resistant (LF/IR); and (4) Low-Fat/Insulin Sensitive (LF/IS) (15 people/group). After 6 months the participants will switch diet for the following 6 months, i.e. those randomized to the Low-Carbohydrate diet will switch to the Low-Fat diet and vice-versa. The primary outcome of this study is to determine whether weight loss success can be increased if one follows the dietary approach appropriately matched to their insulin resistance status. Secondary outcomes include fasting insulin, glucose, lipids, and fatty acid composition.

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Conditions

• Obesity
• Insulin Resistance

Interventions

BEHAVIORAL

Low-Carbohydrate Diet

Counseling/instruction on how to follow a healthy low-carbohydrate diet for 6 months. One evening class/week for 8 weeks (8 total classes). Then one class every other week for 8 weeks (4 total classes). Then one class every four weeks for 8 weeks (2 total classes): 14 evening classes, total.

BEHAVIORAL

Low-Fat Diet

Counseling/instruction on how to follow a healthy low-fat diet for 6 months. One evening class/week for 8 weeks (8 total classes). Then one class every other week for 8 weeks (4 total classes). Then one class every four weeks for 8 weeks (2 total classes): 14 evening classes, total.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Hass Avocado Board

  collaborator OTHER

• Stanford University

  lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

• Christopher D Gardner, PhD · Stanford University

Study Design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

PREVENTION

Masking

QUADRUPLE

Model

CROSSOVER

Eligibility

Min Age

18 Years

Max Age

50 Years

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2012-04-30

Primary Completion

2013-03-31

Completion

2013-03-31

Countries

• United States

Study Locations