Low-Fat Dietary Pattern and Weight Change Over 7 Years

Top Cited Papers
Open Access
Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
The prevalence of obesity in the United States has increased dramatically during the past several decades.1,2 Although the cause of obesity is undoubtedly multifactorial, much attention has been paid to possible effects of dietary macronutrient composition.3-7 A number of popular diet books8-10 have suggested that increasing obesity may be attributed to the diets recommended for chronic disease prevention by various national health organizations.11-13 Specifically, these organizations recommend diets that are lower in total and saturated fat and high in carbohydrates from vegetables, fruits, and whole grains or fiber-rich foods. Proponents of the popular alternative diets8-10 have claimed that the higher proportion of carbohydrates in the standard diets may promote weight gain.