Turns Out, Healthy Eating Trumps the Diet Debate

Stanford University recently completed a year-long study¹ of 600 participants that took the concept of healthy eating to the next level. Half of the test group followed a low-fat diet, while the other half followed a low-carb diet. The results of their study might surprise you – and raise new questions as to what diet is best.

A New Approach to a Clean-Eating Study

Participants in the study weren’t given caloric restrictions, and their food parameters were actually quite broad. They were simply asked to limit either fat or carbs in their diet. For example, the low-carb test group removed grains, starch-laden vegetables, and cereals from their diet, while the low-fat group avoided fatty meats, full-fat dairy products, and nuts. All the while, both groups were counseled to avoid processed foods and eat more vegetables.

Unlike other heavily-monitored studies, this study left participants to live their lives as they otherwise would. Instead, they were offered nutritional classes in which they learned proper grocery shopping and cooking tips. Furthermore, they discussed the participants’ emotional connection to food, which might ultimately affect their results. In the end, both groups exhibited an average weight loss of 12 pounds, effectively squashing the age-old question as to which diet is better.

Healthy Eating is the Key

Essentially, this new study brings to light what a lot of us may have assumed, but never quite knew. The key to any effective diet or weight loss regime is consistency and conscious healthy choices. So, what does this mean for the low-carb vs. low-fat debate? Registered dietician and nutritionist, Tamar Samuels, says we should take these results with a grain of salt.

“One of the bigger challenges with research on low-fat vs. low-carb diets is that there are often different definitions of ‘low fat’ and ‘low-carb’ depending on the study. Based on the study results, it looks like most of the participants ended up eating a moderate carbohydrate or a moderate fat diet – meaning the results can’t really be interpreted as low-carb vs. low fat,” she says. Ultimately, the most important result yielded from this study has nothing to do with carbs or fats. Rather, it’s about finding a sustainable way to eat for each individual person. It has to do with a feeling of satisfaction.

So, Where Does This Leave Us?

Every single body is different, and each individual body has its own unique needs. Lead study author, Christopher Gardner, says, “I think the next level of personalization is really thinking about which good carbs and which good fats are more satiating for some people than others.” Instead of focusing on the trends, listen to what your body, lifestyle, and schedule are telling you. In the end, diets simply work differently for different people.

Dr. Rosmy Barrios, MD

This article has been medically reviewed by Dr. Rosmy Barrios, MD.

Dr. Rosmy Barrios, MD is an aesthetic medicine specialist whose work focuses on patients who are treated for obesity, metabolic syndrome, and other weight-related issues through nutritional analysis, keto diet programs, and supporting medications.

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Melissa Moore

Missy is a quick-thinking, coffee-fueled copywriter with a deep interest and love for the low-carb lifestyle. She’s married to an active-duty soldier, so she and her family are checking off one state at a time. When not writing, she competes in open water races, runs marathons, and travels with her family to the far corners of the world.

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