Open AccessWeight Loss During 12 Weeks' Ad Libitum Carbohydrate‐Rich Diet in Overweight and Normal‐Weight Subjects at a Danish Work Site
Author(s) -
Siggaard Regitze,
Raben Anne,
Astrup Arne
Publication year - 1996
Publication title -
obesity research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1550-8528
pISSN - 1071-7323
DOI - 10.1002/j.1550-8528.1996.tb00242.x
Subject(s) - overweight , weight loss , carbohydrate , medicine , endocrinology , obesity , fat mass , body weight , normal weight , danish , zoology , body mass index , lean body mass , biology , linguistics , philosophy
The effect of 12 weeks' ad libitum carbohydrate‐rich, low‐fat diet on total body weight, lean body mass, and fat mass was studied in a group of healthy subjects at a Danish work‐site (I) (n=50, BMI = 28.4 ± 0.7 kg/m 2 ). Sixteen subjects served as controls (C) (BMI = 27.0 ± 1.0 kg/m 2 ). After 12 weeks the I subjects had decreased their fat intake from 39.0 ± 1.1 energy‐% (E%) to 28.0 ± 1.2 E% and increased their carbohydrate intake from 46.0 ± 1.1 E% to 56.4 ± 1.1 E% (p < 0.05 vs. C). Moreover, a significant loss of body weight (4.2 ± 0.4 kg) and fat mass (4.4 ± 0.6 kg) was observed in I (p < 0.05 vs. C). The weight loss in I was not regained at 24 and 52 weeks' follow‐up (82% of I participating) compared to baseline. The cost per kg lost weight amounted to $14.7/person. In conclusion, instructions at a work site in ad libitum intake of a carbohydrate‐rich, low‐fat diet resulted in a significant loss of body weight and fat mass in overweight and normal‐weight subjects.