Study: Out With Low Fat, In With Low Carbs To Lose Weight

AURORA, Colo. (CBS4) - Avoid carbohydrates to lose weight -- that's the key finding of conclusion of a major new study that also debunks the popular belief that a low-fat diet is best.

According to the study, have the cheese but hold the crackers. Out with low-fat and in with low-carb. But an obesity expert in Colorado says "not so fast."

Butter, ice cream, cheese and red meat are all high in saturated fat and low in popularity with the health conscious. For years the notion has been that dietary fat is harmful.

"There's a connection between higher fat diets and heart disease," a grocery shopper told CBS4 Health Specialist Kathy Walsh.

Now comes a new study that points to carbohydrates as the culprits. The Tulane University research found that cutting carbs is key to weight loss. After a year, obese adults on a low-carb regimen had lost about 8 pounds more than their low-fat counterparts. The low-carb dieters also improved their cholesterol and lowered their risk factors for heart disease.

"I turned on the news and it said, 'Eat more fat.' Oh my gosh, such a wrong thing to tell people," said Dr. Jim Hill, Executive Director of the University of Colorado Anschutz Health and Wellness Center.

He pointed out a second study released Tuesday. It took data from 48 previous studies on brand-name diets like Atkins and Weight Watchers and concluded all led to similar weight loss.

"We know that you can lose weight on low-fat or low-carb," Hill said. "If you don't exercise you're going to gain all that weight back."

Hill says people should pick a diet that works for them, increase exercise and learn how to live life as a thin person. He's not in favor of deprivation and says chose low-carb or low-fat -- just chose to be thin.