Low-carbohydrate and high-fat intake can manage obesity and associated conditions : occasional survey

• Published in: South African medical journal 2013-11, Vol.103 (11), p.826-830
• Main Author: Noakes, T.D.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 - diet therapy; Diet therapy; Diet, Carbohydrate-Restricted; Dietary Fats - administration & dosage; Female; Humans; Hypercholesterolemia - diet therapy; Hypertension - diet therapy; Irritable Bowel Syndrome - diet therapy; Low-carbohydrate diet; Male; Middle Aged; Obesity; Obesity - diet therapy; Self Report; Surveys; Weight Loss
• ISSN: 0256-9574; 2078-5135
• DOI: 10.7196/SAMJ.7302

This study analyses 127 communications from individuals self-reporting their weight change following adoption of a low-carbohydrate, high-fat (LCHF) eating plan. Total combined self-reported weight loss was 1 900 kg (range 5 kg gain to 84 kg loss). The mean ± standard deviation weight loss of 15 (±12) kg is among the largest yet described. Sixteen subjects reported the LCHF ‘cured’ (i.e. medications no longer required) one or more of their medical conditions, most commonly type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) (n=14), hypertension (n=8) and hypercholesterolaemia (n=7). Another 9 subjects with either type 1 diabetes mellitus or T2DM reduced medications as did 7 patients with hypertension; 8 no longer suffered from irritable bowel syndrome. These data show that significant and rapid weight loss is possible on an unsupervised eating plan that severely restricts daily carbohydrate intake to approximately