Year: 2006
Type: article
Abstract: Dietary changes and inactivity have been associated with the obesity epidemie, which involve a complex interaction among genetic, metabolic, psychosocial and cultural factors. Excess weight is associated with risk for atherosclerosis, diabetes mellitus type 2 and some cancers. Additionally, obesity cause adverse effects in metabolism such as a rise in blood pressure, dyslipidemias and insulin resistance. To treat obesity, it is important to consider ai! causative factors and multidisciplinary action is advised. The usual recommendation is to improve lifestyle but in some cases medications and surgery are necessary Among the nutrition interventions, the low carbohydrate diets have become more and more popular. The aim of this work was to show the main results of the studies in the last ten years regarding low carbohydrate diets in treating obesity. The studies are heterogeneous, therefore comparing them was complicated. Weight loss seems to be more associated with calorie restriction, responsible for a negative energy balance, than with the carbohydrate content of the diets. Although some authors report improvement of serum lipids, blood glucose and blood insulin after low carbohydrate diets, we are sti/1 far from a consensus. ln conclusion, there is insufficient evidence to make recommendations for or against these diets.
Source: Revista de Ciências Médicas
Language: Portuguese
Topic: Diet and metabolism studies
Subfield: Physiology (medical)
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: diamond
OpenAlex ID: W2286771044