Do Low Carb Fad Diets Work?

Have you thought about trying a low carb fad diet? Before you commit yourself to the latest low carb fad diet, you’ll want to check out the scientific evidence behind these weight loss plans.

Low carb and no carb diet plans assert that you will lose weight if you severely limit the number of carbs you eat each day. The trustworthy premise behind this diet plan is that a low carb diet keeps your blood sugar low—ask any diabetic—and therefore decreases your body’s production of insulin. Insulin production can cause your body to store calories as fat. Most people do indeed experience a drop in weight when they follow a low carb diet plan.

However, most of these low carb plans don’t limit how many calories you can consume. The concept that you can eat as much as you want (as long as it’s low or no carb) and still lose weight was recently challenged by a study commissioned by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute of the National Institutes of Health. This study oversaw the weight loss efforts of 800 adults using four different diet plans, low carb included. The results of the study showed that you need to count calories and limit caloric intake if you wish to lose weight and keep it off.

Many dieters who have tried low carb fad diets claim they can't stay on the diet long term because the craving for carbs is too intense. Your body requires carbs for energy, so the cravings can be too much to resist.

One last concern is the serious loss of energy most people on these diets experience. Carbohydrates are necessary for energy, especially if you want to combine exercise with your diet plan. If you don’t eat carbs, it’s very challenging to perform well athletically. You may need to sneak in a few carbs in order to exercise, which is essential for muscle tone.

Now you know the truth about low carb fad diets.