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Toronto – Overweight individuals who secrete insulin at a higher level may experience greater weight loss by selecting a low-glycemic load diet, compared to a low-fat diet, according to a study in the May 16 issue of JAMA. The researchers also found a low-glycemic load diet to have beneficial effects on HDL cholesterol and triglyceride concentrations.

“With prevalence approaching one-third of the population, obesity is among the most important medical problems in the United States and identification of effective dietary treatment has become a major public health priority. Three popular diets – low fat, low carbohydrate, and low glycemic load – have recently received much attention. However, clinical trials have produced inconsistent findings, with some suggesting that one diet is superior for weight loss and others indicating no difference between diets,” the authors write.

The results showed that:

• Overall, the change in body weight and body fat did not differ between the diet groups.
• However, those participants with a 30 minute insulin level above the mid point (median) achieved more weight and body fat loss on a low glycemic diet than on a low fat diet.
• At 18 months, their weight loss was 12.8 lb (5.8 kg) on the low glycemic diet versus 2.6 lb (1.2 kg) on the low fat diet, and their corresponding body fat loss was 2.6 per cent versus 0.9 per cent respectively.
• For all participants, regardless of insulin patterns, the level of high density lipoprotein (HDL, or “good” cholesterol) and triglyceride concentrations improved more on the low glycemic diet, whereas the low density lipoprotein (LDL or “bad” cholesterol) improved more on the low fat diet.
• For those participants with 30 minute insulin levels below the mid point, there was no significant differences in weight and body fat loss between the two diets.
• Cardiovascular risk factors did not differ between high and low insulin secreters.

They add that one explanation for the inconsistent findings could relate to the inherent physiological differences among study participants. “One physiological mechanism that might relate weight loss to dietary composition is individual differences in insulin secretion.”

People who produce a lot of the hormone insulin can turn that into energy and lose more weight.

The new study shows that if people can eat certain things which boost the process of converting sugar to energy then they may not be as hungry. David Ludwig stated that not one diet can fit everybody.

A low-glycemic diet can control hunger because the body absorbs sugar from carbs more slowly. Pastas, oatmeal, etc are low glycemic foods.

The study is published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA).