Similar weight loss with low-energy food combining or balanced diets

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: The goal of this study was to evaluate the effect of two diets (`food combining' or dissociated vs balanced) on body weight and metabolic parameters during a 6-week period in an in-hospital setting. SUBJECTS AND DESIGN: 54 obese patients were randomly assigned to receive diets containing 4.5 MJaday (1100 kcaladay) composed of either 25% protein, 47% carbohydrates and 25% lipids (dissociated diet) or 25% protein, 42% carbohydrates and 31% lipids (balanced diet). Consequently, the two diets were equally low in energy and substrate content (protein, fat and carbohydrate) but widely differed in substrate distribution throughout the day. RESULTS: There was no signi®cant difference in the amount of weight loss in response to dissociated (6.2 AE 0.6 kg) or balanced (7.5 AE 0.4 kg) diets. Furthermore, signi®cant decreases in total body fat and waist-to-hip circumference ratio were seen in both groups, and the magnitude of the changes did not vary as a function of the diet composition. Fasting plasma glucose, insulin, total cholesterol and triacylglycerol concentrations decreased signi®cantly and similarly in patients receiving both diets. Both systolic and diastolic blood pressure values decreased signi®cantly in patients eating balanced diets. The results of this study show that both diets achieved similar weight loss. Total fat weight loss was higher in balanced diets, although differences did not reach statistical signi®cance. Total lean body mass was identically spared in both groups. CONCLUSION: In summary at identical energy intake and similar substrate composition, the dissociated (or`food combining') diet did not bring any additional loss in weight and body fat.

Macronutrients and type 1 diabetes (revision number 6)

“…Fourteen randomised controlled trials were identified that presented evidence on diets differing in the proportion of carbohydrate to fat on systolic and diastolic blood pressure, all of which were included in the meta-analysis (Golay et al, 2000;Foster et al, 2003;Lovejoy et al, 2003;Clifton et al, 2004;Ley et al, 2004;Dansinger et al, 2005;Ebbeling et al, 2005;Howard et al, 2006b;Ebbeling et al, 2007;Gardner et al, 2007;Maki et al, 2007b;Phillips et al, 2008;Frisch et al, 2009;Sacks et al, 2009). Six trials were subsequently identified in the update search Gulseth et al, 2010;Jebb et al, 2010;Howard et al, 2010;Tierney et al, 2011;Brooking et al, 2012) (Cardio-metabolic review, incident hypertension and blood pressure chapter p 49, 53; Update search table 47).…”

“…Nineteen randomised controlled trials that presented evidence on diets differing in the proportion of carbohydrate to fat on fasting total cholesterol were included in the metaanalysis (Campos et al, 1995;Nelson et al, 1995;Ginsberg et al, 1998;Turley et al, 1998;Zambon et al, 1999;Golay et al, 2000;Colette et al, 2003;Couture et al, 2003;Lovejoy et al, 2003;Clifton et al, 2004;Ley et al, 2004;Pelkman et al, 2004;SegalIsaacson et al, 2004;Cornier et al, 2005;Lofgren et al, 2005;Petersen et al, 2006;Howard et al, 2006b;Due et al, 2008b;Frisch et al, 2009). Five trials were subsequently identified in the update search Howard et al, 2010;Haufe et al, 2011;Tierney et al, 2011;Brooking et al, 2012) (Cardio-metabolic review, the hyperlipidaemias and blood lipids chapter p 65-72; Update search table 62).…”

“…Saturated fatty acid intakes, in particular, are reduced in most of the higher carbohydrate diets. In those trials which try to maintain saturated fatty acid intakes at similar levels between experimental groups there is still a lower intake of between 1-3% energy in the higher carbohydrate diets (Golay et al, 2000;Couture et al, 2003;Colette et al, 2003;Pelkman et al, 2004;Appel et al, 2005;Due et al, 2008b;Jebb et al, 2010;Tierney et al, 2011;de Souza et al, 2012). It is not possible, therefore, to exclude confounding by concomitant decreases in saturated fatty acid intake or possibly weight loss on the effect on fasting total cholesterol concentration.…”

“…a concomitant reduction in saturated fat intake and/or weight loss  The effect is biologically relevant Fasting HDL-cholesterol 5.36. Twenty two randomised controlled trials that presented evidence on diets differing in the proportion of carbohydrate to fat on fasting HDL-cholesterol were included in the metaanalysis (Campos et al, 1995;Nelson et al, 1995;Ginsberg et al, 1998;Turley et al, 1998;Zambon et al, 1999;Golay et al, 2000;Wolever & Mehling, 2002;Foster et al, 2003;Colette et al, 2003;Couture et al, 2003;Lovejoy et al, 2003;Clifton et al, 2004;Ley et al, 2004;Pelkman et al, 2004;Segal-Isaacson et al, 2004;Cornier et al, 2005;Bhargava, 2006;Petersen et al, 2006;Howard et al, 2006b;Ebbeling et al, 2007;Due et al, 2008b;Frisch et al, 2009). Seven trials were subsequently identified in the update search Howard et al, 2010;Foster et al, 2010;Haufe et al, 2011;Tierney et al, 2011;de Souza et al, 2012;Brooking et al, 2012) Of the trials identified in the update search, four report no significant effect of diets differing in the proportion of carbohydrate and fat on fasting HDL-cholesterol concentration (Howard et al, 2010;Haufe et al, 2011;de Souza et al, 2012;Brooking et al, 2012).…”

Rainbow diet : a new nutrition education tool

“…The rapid weight loss on these diets is attributed to high amounts of water loss (60 to 70% of weight loss was water) and the dieters often regain weight rapidly once normal eating is resumed (Andersen, Backer, Stokholm, & Quaade, 1984;Wadden & Stunkard, 1986). However, it is important to reemphasize that energy intake, not energy consumption or distribution of calories, determines weight loss (Golay et al, 2000). Therefore, a balanced diet that provides a reduced intake of calories is preferable as the approach helps children achieve long-term weight control with healthier eating behaviors.…”