Effect of Low-Carbohydrate, Unlimited Calorie Diet on the Treatment of Childhood Obesity: A Prospective Controlled Study

Abstract

A high protein, low carbohydrate, unlimited calorie diet was superior to a restricted calorie protocol for weight loss in obese school age children; moreover, compliance was better.

The effect of low‐carbohydrate diet on left ventricular diastolic function in obese children

“…There are more favorable effects on plasma lipid profile with the low‐carbohydrate diet 13 . The studies on the use of low‐carbohydrate diets on pediatric age groups have increased recently and the results are encouraging 14,15 . Although there are some reports on adults that diet therapy reverses the effects of obesity on ventricular functions, 28,29 to the best of our knowledge, this is the only study examining the effects of diet therapy and weight reduction on left ventricular function in childhood obesity.…”

“…Conventional therapy for obesity is a low‐lipid, low‐calorie diet. A low‐carbohydrate diet is shown to be a reasonable alternative to conventional diet for decreasing insulin resistance, reversing dyslipidemia and reducing weight in adults 12,13 and in children 14,15 …”

“…A low-carbohydrate diet is shown to be a reasonable alternative to conventional diet for decreasing insulin resistance, reversing dyslipidemia and reducing weight in adults 12,13 and in children. 14,15 In this study, we considered that childhood obesity leads to LV diastolic dysfunction, besides many metabolic changes including dyslipidemia and insulin resistance. Second, we considered that weight reduction may reverse the effects of obesity on LV diastolic functions.…”

Weight loss regimens that control for carbohydrate quality or quantity: a review

“…In a controlled but not randomized trial, Bailes et al showed an increased weight loss with a non‐energy‐restricted ketogenic diet compared with a low‐calorie diet (LCal) in children. In this trial, the LC group lost an average of 5.21 kg, while the LCal group gained an average of 2.36 kg (53). They did not report lipid data.…”

Insulin Resistance in Pediatric Obesity

“…In a pilot study, Bailes et al [42] studied 55 5-to 18-year-old obese children who chose either a lowcarbohydrate diet (max 30 g CHO/day) or a standard low-calorie diet (max. 30 E% fat, 15 to 20 E% protein, and 55 E% CHO; 80% of calculated energy need).…”