Jul 17, 2008 9:38 am US/Eastern
Which Diet Works Best: Low Fat Or Low Carb?
MIAMI (CBS) ―
If you're trying to lose weight, many doctors and nutritionists prescribe the medical standard low fat diet to help their overweight patients drop pounds.
But a major new study in the New England Journal of Medicine is questioning the practice of minimizing fat because two other diets may possibly work better. CBS station WFOR-TV Health Specialist Dr. Sean Kenniff spoke about the plan Thursday morning.
In the study, researchers put hundreds of obese patients on one of three diets: low fat, low carb and Mediterranean style.
The Mediterranean plan consisted of fish, fruits, vegetables and good fats from olive oil and nuts. Low carb eaters were encouraged to consume healthy fats as well.
After two years, low fat dieters lost an average of 6 and a half pounds. But those on the Mediterranean lost 10 pounds and low carb eaters dropped even more.
Not only did people on the Mediterranean and low carb diets lose more weight, they also had better cholesterol levels.
Experts say healthy fats make a diet easier to stick with.
"That makes you full longer so you're less likely to overeat, you're less likely to binge between meals," according to Miller.
It helped physician Stacey Wasserman lose 43 pounds. "The healthy eating is more part of my lifestyle now than trying to diet," said Wasserman.
The study authors say no one diet works for everyone and doctors should be flexible.
"I think the first choice for weight loss should be Mediterranean style or low carb and low fat it works for some people but it shouldn't be the first choice," according to Dr. Meir Stampfer of Brigham and Women's hospital.
So if you're looking to lose weight, eating a healthy amount of fat may actually help.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
CBS News Interactive: Healthwatch
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