Comparison of weight loss among named diet programs in overweight and obese adults: a meta-analysis
- PMID: 25182101
- DOI: 10.1001/jama.2014.10397
Comparison of weight loss among named diet programs in overweight and obese adults: a meta-analysis
Abstract
Importance: Many claims have been made regarding the superiority of one diet or another for inducing weight loss. Which diet is best remains unclear.
Objective: To determine weight loss outcomes for popular diets based on diet class (macronutrient composition) and named diet.
Data sources: Search of 6 electronic databases: AMED, CDSR, CENTRAL, CINAHL, EMBASE, and MEDLINE from inception of each database to April 2014.
Study selection: Overweight or obese adults (body mass index ≥25) randomized to a popular self-administered named diet and reporting weight or body mass index data at 3-month follow-up or longer.
Data extraction and synthesis: Two reviewers independently extracted data on populations, interventions, outcomes, risk of bias, and quality of evidence. A Bayesian framework was used to perform a series of random-effects network meta-analyses with meta-regression to estimate the relative effectiveness of diet classes and programs for change in weight and body mass index from baseline. Our analyses adjusted for behavioral support and exercise.
Main outcomes and measures: Weight loss and body mass index at 6- and 12-month follow-up (±3 months for both periods).
Results: Among 59 eligible articles reporting 48 unique randomized trials (including 7286 individuals) and compared with no diet, the largest weight loss was associated with low-carbohydrate diets (8.73 kg [95% credible interval {CI}, 7.27 to 10.20 kg] at 6-month follow-up and 7.25 kg [95% CI, 5.33 to 9.25 kg] at 12-month follow-up) and low-fat diets (7.99 kg [95% CI, 6.01 to 9.92 kg] at 6-month follow-up and 7.27 kg [95% CI, 5.26 to 9.34 kg] at 12-month follow-up). Weight loss differences between individual diets were minimal. For example, the Atkins diet resulted in a 1.71 kg greater weight loss than the Zone diet at 6-month follow-up. Between 6- and 12-month follow-up, the influence of behavioral support (3.23 kg [95% CI, 2.23 to 4.23 kg] at 6-month follow-up vs 1.08 kg [95% CI, -1.82 to 3.96 kg] at 12-month follow-up) and exercise (0.64 kg [95% CI, -0.35 to 1.66 kg] vs 2.13 kg [95% CI, 0.43 to 3.85 kg], respectively) on weight loss differed.
Conclusions and relevance: Significant weight loss was observed with any low-carbohydrate or low-fat diet. Weight loss differences between individual named diets were small. This supports the practice of recommending any diet that a patient will adhere to in order to lose weight.
Comment in
-
A diet by any other name is still about energy.JAMA. 2014 Sep 3;312(9):900-1. doi: 10.1001/jama.2014.10837. JAMA. 2014. PMID: 25182098 No abstract available.
-
Weight-loss diets only work when you follow them.Evid Based Med. 2015 Jun;20(3):103-4. doi: 10.1136/ebmed-2014-110138. Epub 2015 Mar 23. Evid Based Med. 2015. PMID: 25802358 No abstract available.
Similar articles
-
Comparison of dietary macronutrient patterns of 14 popular named dietary programmes for weight and cardiovascular risk factor reduction in adults: systematic review and network meta-analysis of randomised trials.BMJ. 2020 Apr 1;369:m696. doi: 10.1136/bmj.m696. BMJ. 2020. PMID: 32238384 Free PMC article.
-
Effect of Low-Fat vs Low-Carbohydrate Diet on 12-Month Weight Loss in Overweight Adults and the Association With Genotype Pattern or Insulin Secretion: The DIETFITS Randomized Clinical Trial.JAMA. 2018 Feb 20;319(7):667-679. doi: 10.1001/jama.2018.0245. JAMA. 2018. PMID: 29466592 Free PMC article. Clinical Trial.
-
Comparison of the Atkins, Zone, Ornish, and LEARN diets for change in weight and related risk factors among overweight premenopausal women: the A TO Z Weight Loss Study: a randomized trial.JAMA. 2007 Mar 7;297(9):969-77. doi: 10.1001/jama.297.9.969. JAMA. 2007. PMID: 17341711 Clinical Trial.
-
Effects of low-carbohydrate vs low-fat diets on weight loss and cardiovascular risk factors: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.Arch Intern Med. 2006 Feb 13;166(3):285-93. doi: 10.1001/archinte.166.3.285. Arch Intern Med. 2006. PMID: 16476868 Review.
-
Advice on low-fat diets for obesity.Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2002;(2):CD003640. doi: 10.1002/14651858.CD003640. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2002. Update in: Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2008 Jul 16;(3):CD003640. doi: 10.1002/14651858.CD003640.pub2. PMID: 12076496 Updated. Review.
Cited by
-
The role of cognitive restraint savings and the safety of ketogenic weight loss interventions.Rev Assoc Med Bras (1992). 2024 May 3;70(4):e20231505. doi: 10.1590/1806-9282.20231505. eCollection 2024. Rev Assoc Med Bras (1992). 2024. PMID: 38716951 Free PMC article. No abstract available.
-
Effects of a Web-based Weight Management Education Program on Various Factors for Overweight and Obese Women: Randomized Controlled Trial.JMIR Cardio. 2024 Apr 18;8:e42402. doi: 10.2196/42402. JMIR Cardio. 2024. PMID: 38635975 Free PMC article.
-
Changes in Macronutrients during Dieting Lead to Weight Cycling and Metabolic Complications in Mouse Model.Nutrients. 2024 Feb 25;16(5):646. doi: 10.3390/nu16050646. Nutrients. 2024. PMID: 38474774 Free PMC article.
-
Low-Carbohydrate Diet Macronutrient Quality and Weight Change.JAMA Netw Open. 2023 Dec 1;6(12):e2349552. doi: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2023.49552. JAMA Netw Open. 2023. PMID: 38150249 Free PMC article.
-
8. Obesity and Weight Management for the Prevention and Treatment of Type 2 Diabetes: Standards of Care in Diabetes-2024.Diabetes Care. 2024 Jan 1;47(Suppl 1):S145-S157. doi: 10.2337/dc24-S008. Diabetes Care. 2024. PMID: 38078578 Review.
Publication types
MeSH terms
Grants and funding
LinkOut - more resources
Full Text Sources
Other Literature Sources
Medical
Miscellaneous