Belfast, December 10 -- Researchers investigating the effects of low carbohydrate diet found that although it promotes weight loss and improves blood pressure it also increases the risk factors for coronary heart disease.

Dr Steven Hunter from the Royal Victoria Hospital, Belfast, who led the study said, “High-fat diets have become popular because they seemingly promote more rapid weight loss and because of their palatability.

“ However, we now have proof that they do not help people lose weight any faster than more conventional diets, and the potential negatives of increased cardiovascular risks far outweigh the potential positives of more easily sustained dieting/weight loss, especially when there is a proven and safe alternative in low-fat high-carbohydrate weight loss diets.”

Details of the study: The researchers conducted a study on a group of 24 obese pre-diabetic adults with an average body mass index [a number, derived by using height and weight measurements, that gives a general indication of whether or not weight falls within a healthy range.] of 33.6 kg/m2. They split them into two groups.

One group was assigned a low-fat high-carbohydrate diet (20 percent fat, 60 percent carbohydrate), while the second followed a high-fat low-carbohydrate diet (60 percent fat, 20 percent carbohydrate).

After a period of eight weeks, the investigators compared the effects of the two diets on blood sugar, insulin [a hormone produced by the pancreas. Insulin affects the amount of glucose absorbed by the liver.] , arterial stiffness and cardiovascular risk factors. They observed that both the diets had equal health benefits and facilitated weight loss.

However, the findings revealed that eating a high fat low carbohydrate can be dangerous as it leads to arterial stiffness, a potential risk for developing cardiac [pertaining to the heart.] Problems.

A word of advice: Dr Hunter, stated, “The worldwide obesity pandemic is a major public health concern and strongly linked to rises in diabetes and cardiovascular disease.

By advocating low-carbohydrate high-fat diets as a weapon against obesity and diabetes, health professionals could be contributing to a dangerous rise in cardiovascular disease.”

He further advised, "If your New Year's resolution is to lose weight, make sure you do it the right way and don't burden your body with additional unnecessary health risks by falling for the lure of the seemingly easy and fast weight loss offered by high-fat diets. The best approach for your overall health is a low-fat high-carbohydrate diet, coupled with exercise.”

The research results were released on the National Obesity Week and World Diabetes Day.