Objective versus self-reported energy intake changes during low-carbohydrate and low-fat diets
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Abstract
Objective: This study aimed to compare self‐reported with objective measurements of energy intake changes (∆EI) during a 1‐year weight‐loss intervention with subjects randomized to low‐carbohydrate versus low‐fat diets. Methods: Repeated body weight measurements were used as inputs to an objective mathematical model to calculate ∆EI Model and to compare with self‐reported energy intake changes assessed by repeated 24‐hour recalls (∆EI Recall ). Results: ∆EI Recall indicated a relatively persistent state of calorie restriction of ~500 to 600 kcal/d at 3, 6, and 12 months with no significant differences between the diets. ∆EI Model demonstrated large early decreases in calorie intake > 800 kcal/d followed by an exponential return to ~100 kcal/d below baseline at the end of the year. Accounting for self‐reported physical activities did not materially affect the results. Discrepancies between ∆EI Model and ∆EI Recall became progressively greater over time. The low‐carbohydrate diet resulted in ∆EI Model that was 162 ± 53 kcal/d lower than the low‐fat diet over the first 3 months ( P = 0.002), but no significant diet differences were found thereafter. Conclusions: Self‐reported ∆EI measurements were inaccurate. Model‐based calculations of ∆EI found that instructions to follow the low‐carbohydrate diet resulted in greater calorie restriction than the low‐fat diet in the early phases of the intervention, but these diet differences were not sustained.
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In DIETFITS, weight loss was greater when consuming a low-carbohydrate than low-fat diet at 3 and 6 months, a difference that did not persist at 12 months.
“In DIETFITS (Diet Intervention Examining The Factors Interacting with Treatment Success), weight loss was greater when consuming a low-carbohydrate than when consuming a low-fat diet at 3 and 6 mo, a difference that did not persist at 12 mo (156, 157).”
From The carbohydrate-insulin model: A physiological perspective on the obesity pandemic (2021) · cites this paper as [157]
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- Authors
- Guo, J., Robinson, J. L., Gardner, C. D., & Hall, K. D.
- Affiliations
- National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (US)
- Stanford Medicine (US)
- Corresponding author
- Hall, Kevin D.
- Venue
- Obesity
- Publisher
- Wiley
- Published
- 2019-01-22
- Volume
- 27
- Issue
- 3
- Pages
- 420-426
- ISSN
- 1930-7381 (ISSN-L)
- 1930-739X
- PMC
- PMC6392435
- OpenAlex
- W2951606577
- Cited by
- 18
- References
- 15
- Citations by year
- 2025: 1 · 2024: 3 · 2023: 2 · 2022: 3 · 2021: 5 · 2020: 3 · 2019: 1
- FWCI
- 2.06
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- green
- doi.org
- Locations
- Obesity (publishedVersion)
- bioRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory) (acceptedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (acceptedVersion)
- PubMed Central (acceptedVersion)
- Funders
- National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (1R01DK091831, 1ZIADK013036)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Physiology › Diet and metabolism studies
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Physiology › Dietary Effects on Health
- Health Sciences › Nursing › Nutrition and Dietetics › Nutrition, Health and Food Behavior
- Keywords
- energy intake, low-carbohydrate diet, low-fat diet, weight loss, caloric restriction, 24-hour dietary recall, dietary adherence, physical activity
- MeSH terms
- Energy Intake, Female, Humans, Male, Diet, Fat-Restricted, Diet, Carbohydrate-Restricted, Self Report
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