The Diet Logs

University of Washington School of Medicine researchers in Seattle report it may be that the high amounts of protein, rather than the lack of carbohydrates, that fuel success for the fad low-carb diets. They suspect one result of high protein levels is a reduction in appetite, causing people to feel full sooner and consequently eat less.

Comparing different diets, all with the same percentage of carbohydrates, the researchers found that satiety was significantly higher when daily intake was almost one-third protein. The participants even lost weight on a diet of 30% protein, 20% fat, and 50% carbohydrates, according to the study in the July American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.

The study, in all its academic spendor is “A high-protein diet induces sustained reductions in appetite, ad libitum caloric intake, and body weight despite compensatory changes in diurnal plasma leptin and ghrelin concentrations” and found in the AJCN, July 2005; 82; p. 41-48. But a more readable report is available from medpagetoday.com

The physician-oriented and approved article suggests:

MedPage Today Action Points

1. Inform patients that diets high in protein may lead to moderate weight loss by boosting satiety.
2. Discuss with patients that the key to potential weight loss is to consume a balanced diet of protein, carbohydrates, and fat rather than eliminating any main food group.

Georganna Hancock wrote this on July 31st, 2005 and filed it under Dieting, Fad Diets, Healthy Eating, Weight Loss |