Comparing Low-Carb Diets Of Less Than 130g Carbohydrate Per Day To Low-Fat Diets Of Less Than 35% Fat Of Total Calories
Why are randomised controlled trials important?
Currently, a lot of nutrition science is based on observational data through epidemiology, which presents association but not causation. Randomised controlled trials (RCTs) are the gold standard in evidence because they help establish cause and effect. When looking at nutrition science it’s important to acknowledge whether a study is based on association or causation.
Key
^ = Greater Weight Loss, * = Significantly Greater Weight Loss Between Groups
Time Frame & Links | Low-Carb (LC) Weight Loss | Low-Fat (LF) Weight Loss | Participants (LC v LF) |
---|---|---|---|
1) 6 Months | 8.5kg^* | 3.9kg | 22 v 20 |
2) 12 Months | 4.3kg^ | 2.5kg | 20 v 17 |
3) 6 Months | 5.8kg^* | 1.9kg | 43 v 36 |
4) 12 Weeks | 9.9kg^* | 4.1kg | 16 v 14 |
5) 12 Weeks | 6.2kg^* | 3.4kg | 22 v 23 |
6) 24 Weeks | 12.7kg^* | 7.2kg | 46 v 34 |
7) 30-50 Days | 5.5kg^* | 3.5kg | 28 v 28 |
8) 10 Weeks | 7.0kg^ | 6.8kg | 15 v 16 |
9) 6 Weeks | 6.2kg^ | 6.0kg | 16 v 16 |
10) 6 Weeks | 6.4kg^* | 4.2kg | 12 v 11 |
11) 3 Months | 3.55kg^* | 0.92kg | 40 v 39 |
12) 12 Weeks | 6.3kg^ | 5.3kg | 49 v 47 |
13) 12 Months | 4.7kg^* | 2.2kg | 68 v 61 |
14) 8 Week | 7.8kg^* | 6.4kg | 48 v 45 |
15) 3 Months | 6.9kg^* | 2.1kg | 10 v 10 |
16) 24 Weeks | 11.1kg^* | 6.9kg | 21 v 29 |
17) 2 Years | 5.5kg^* | 3.3kg | 83 v 94 |
18) 8 Weeks | 7.5kg^* | 6.2kg | 52 v 47 |
19) 24 Weeks | 11.9kg^ | 10.1kg | 45 v 43 |
20) 12 Weeks | 10.1kg^* | 5.2kg | 20 v 20 |
21) 12 Months | 14.5kg^ | 11.5kg | 33 v 36 |
22) 13 Weeks | 13.2kg^* | 7.3kg | 18 v 15 |
23) 24 Months | 2.34kg | 2.97kg^ | 31 v 30 |
24) 3 Months | 5.5kg^* | 2.6kg | 15 v 18 |
25) 12 Months | 5.6kg^* | 1.4kg | 59 v 60 |
26) 4 Months | 9.79kg^* | 6.14kg | 20 v 20 |
27) 8 Weeks | 8.4kg^* | 6.7kg | 32 v 28 |
28) 12 Months | 3.1kg | 3.1kg | 47 v 49 |
29) 2 Years | 6.34kg | 7.37kg^ | 154 v 153 |
30) 24 Months | 1.5kg^ | 0.2kg | 28 v 40 |
31) 12 Weeks | 6.8kg^ | 5.2kg | 18 v 15 |
32) 12 Weeks | 8.0kg^* | 6.4kg | 24 v 21 |
33) 1 Year | 13.7kg | 13.7kg | 55 v 51 |
34) 1 Year | 5.1kg^ | 3.1kg | 62 v 64 |
35) 48 Weeks | 11.37kg^ | 9.62kg | 57 v 65 |
36) 3 Months | 5.0kg^ | 3.7kg | 63 v 66 |
37) 24 Weeks | 12.0kg^ | 11.5kg | 46 v 47 |
38) 6 Months | 6.0kg^ | 5.9kg | 57 v 174 |
39) 1 Year | 2.1kg | 3.0kg^ | 40 v 40 |
40) 6 Weeks | 6.1kg^* | 3.9kg | 15 v 15 |
41) 24 Weeks | 7.1kg^* | 4.7kg | 28 v 30 |
42) 3 Months | 7.6kg^* | 4.3kg | 22 v 19 |
43) 6 Months | 4.3kg^ | 4.0kg | 29 v 30 |
44) 6 Months | 2.6kg^ | 1.4kg | 12 v 12 |
45) 8 Weeks | 7.4kg^ | 6.5kg | 12 v 12 |
46) 6 Months | 6.8kg^ | 5.6kg | 53 v 57 |
47) 3 Months | 3.4kg | 4.1kg^ | 150 v 150 |
48) 12 Months | 11.8kg^* | 6.9kg | 55 v 55 |
49) 1 Year | 2.9kg | 3.7kg^ | 30 v 30 |
50) 6 Months | 8.5kg^* | 3.5kg | 43 v 35 |
51) 52 Week | 9.8kg | 10.1kg^ | 41 v 37 |
52) 6 Months | 9.1kg^ | 8.9kg | 25 v 24 |
53) 6 Months | 8.0kg^ | 5.7kg | 21 v 17 |
54) 6 Months | 1.6kg^* | 0.6kg | 30 v 32 |
55) 4 Months | 14.7kg^* | 5.05kg | 45 v 40 |
56) 12 Weeks | 11.9kg | 12.2^kg | 20 v 18 |
57) 32 Weeks | 12.7kg^* | 3.0kg | 12 v 13 |
58) 18 Months | 5.0kg^ | 2.4kg | 32 v 33 |
59) 10 Weeks | 25.8kg^* | 2.08kg | 10 v 10 |
60) 12 Months | 7.9kg^* | 1.7kg | 16 v 18 |
61) 2 Years | 6.8kg^ | 6.6kg | 33 v 28 |
62) 12 Months | 6.0kg^ | 5.3kg | 304 v 305 |
63) 12 Weeks | 9.5kg^* | 2.0kg | 21 v 12 |
64) 12 Weeks | 13.72kg^* | 0.77kg | 46 v 45 |
65) 18 Months | 2.76kg^* | 0.71kg | 43 v 42 |
66) 8 Weeks | 5.9kg^* | 0.9kg | 19 v 15 |
67) 12 Months | 9.3kg^* | 5.8kg | 76 v 64 |
Results: | 58/67 LC Are > LF | 7/67 LF Are > LC | 2778(LC) v 2840(LF) |
36/67 LC Are Sig. | 0/67 LF Are Sig. | 2 RCTs Are Equal |