Carbs Aren't the Problem
Ok, once again, repeat after me, "carbs are not the problem, carbs are not the problem."
The Women's Health Initiative, a multi-year study of 48,000 post-menopausal women has once again proven that losing weight is as simple as calories in and calories out. Face it, who has a harder time losing weight and keeping weight off than post-menopausal women? We 40-somethings can whine all we want, but remember how much worse it got as we shifted from or 20's to our 30's, and then into our 40's? Well add another decade and and the loss of hormones and whoa baby, you ain't seen nothin' yet!
Here's the nitty gritty: the Women's Health Initiative Dietary Modification trial was a long-term study designed to see whether diets low in fat and high in fruits, vegetables, and whole grains could help protect postmenopausal women from cardiovascular disease, breast cancer, and colorectal cancer.
From 1993 to 1998, a total of 48,835 post-menopausal women were randomly assigned to either a low-fat, carbohydrate-rich dietary intervention, or a dietary control group of their own choosing. Women in the low-fat diet group attended individual and group sessions focused on promoting the low-fat intake and increasing vegetable, fruit, and whole-grain (complex carb) consumption. They did not receive any instruction on weight loss, nor were they asked to restrict calories. The control group received diet-related education materials only. The researchers then collected data on body measurements and nutrient intake through August 31, 2004, with an average follow-up of 7.5 years. A total of 19,541 (40%) of the participants were randomized to the low-fat, complex-carb diet and 29,294 (60%) were assigned to the control group. Women in the low-fat diet group lost an average of 4.8 pounds compared to virtually no loss for the control group in the first year. Additionally, the low-fat, carbohydrate-rich group kept more weight off over the study period, although the difference narrowed over time, from 4.1 pounds at one year, to 0.8 pounds at 7.5 years. The researchers noted, "Weight loss was greatest among women in either group who decreased their percentage of energy from fat. A similar trend was observed with increases in vegetable and fruit servings..."
So as you're contemplating those New Year's resolutions to lose weight, the take home message from this study is that caloric restriction, rather than a focus on individual diet components is the only sure-fire way to achieve weight loss through dieting. Since my mom participated in the low-fat, carb-rich arm of this study and lost at least that average amount of weight, I guess I better go talk to her now...
Happy New Year, Laurie
Walking is the best possible exercise. Habituate yourself to walk very far.
Thomas Jefferson (1743 - 1826)
Related Topics: The Atkins Diet: What it is, South Beach Diet: What it is
The Women's Health Initiative, a multi-year study of 48,000 post-menopausal women has once again proven that losing weight is as simple as calories in and calories out. Face it, who has a harder time losing weight and keeping weight off than post-menopausal women? We 40-somethings can whine all we want, but remember how much worse it got as we shifted from or 20's to our 30's, and then into our 40's? Well add another decade and and the loss of hormones and whoa baby, you ain't seen nothin' yet!
Here's the nitty gritty: the Women's Health Initiative Dietary Modification trial was a long-term study designed to see whether diets low in fat and high in fruits, vegetables, and whole grains could help protect postmenopausal women from cardiovascular disease, breast cancer, and colorectal cancer.
From 1993 to 1998, a total of 48,835 post-menopausal women were randomly assigned to either a low-fat, carbohydrate-rich dietary intervention, or a dietary control group of their own choosing. Women in the low-fat diet group attended individual and group sessions focused on promoting the low-fat intake and increasing vegetable, fruit, and whole-grain (complex carb) consumption. They did not receive any instruction on weight loss, nor were they asked to restrict calories. The control group received diet-related education materials only. The researchers then collected data on body measurements and nutrient intake through August 31, 2004, with an average follow-up of 7.5 years. A total of 19,541 (40%) of the participants were randomized to the low-fat, complex-carb diet and 29,294 (60%) were assigned to the control group. Women in the low-fat diet group lost an average of 4.8 pounds compared to virtually no loss for the control group in the first year. Additionally, the low-fat, carbohydrate-rich group kept more weight off over the study period, although the difference narrowed over time, from 4.1 pounds at one year, to 0.8 pounds at 7.5 years. The researchers noted, "Weight loss was greatest among women in either group who decreased their percentage of energy from fat. A similar
So as you're contemplating those New Year's resolutions to lose weight, the take home message from this study is that caloric restriction, rather than a focus on individual diet components is the only sure-fire way to achieve weight loss through dieting. Since my mom participated in the low-fat, carb-rich arm of this study and lost at least that average amount of weight, I guess I better go talk to her now...
Happy New Year, Laurie
Walking is the best possible exercise. Habituate yourself to walk very far.
Thomas Jefferson (1743 - 1826)
Related Topics: The Atkins Diet: What it is, South Beach Diet: What it is
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5 Comments:
I have a question is there a certain age that you can get heart disease? I am 23 years old and I have chest pains but they are not all the time. If you could please email me at nicolehart82@sbcglobal.net
Hello Nicole,
Limits to my terms of service-can't email you directly. You're welcome to write to me on my Web MD Board, where I can comment directly. Here's a link:
http://boards.webmd.com/topic.asp?topic_id=4&start=1&end=100
Laurie
If it were this simple, I'd be thin! I routinely eat no more than 1000 calories per day and exercise for 60 minutes/5x per week. I've trained for and completed a marathon, took part in dancing, fencing, walking and weight-lifting and have lost 0 lbs. My metabolism is completely normal, and so is my thyroid (I've had them checked repeatedly). My resting metabolic rate is 2050. I've tried everything short of surgery.
ROANNAFLOWER, REPLY TO UR POST,
MAY I SUGGEST UPPING UR INTAKE UR RIGHT AT THE LINE OF STARVATION MODE, 1000 CALORIES THE STARVATION MODE IS 900 THEN THE BIDY WILL EAT THE LEAN MUSCLE.. BY THE WAY WHAT KIND OF FOODS ARE U EATING ENUF FIBER? PROTIENE/ DO U HAVE BALANCE IN UR MEALS ARE THEY CONSISTANT,? GET BACK TO ME,
I have been healthy and thin all my life. I had 2 children and lost the weight quickly. Now 6 yrs. later I can't seem to lose weight.
I have gained 40 lbs. in 2 years.I walk 8 miles a week and eat a bal diet.(hubby is dibetic)I still seem to be gainning faster than I can buy clothes to fit.I have Graves Disese in my family.What type of Dr do I see, If that is the problem?( my GP says thyroid is a little low but nothing to worrie about) She seems to think I'm not doing enough for exercise.Did I mention my 2 kids??They will keep anyone busy!
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