Effects of diet macronutrient composition on body composition and fat distribution during weight maintenance and weight loss

Abstract

Qualitative aspects of diet may affect body composition and propensity for weight gain or loss. We tested the hypothesis that consumption of a relatively low glycemic load (GL) diet would reduce total and visceral adipose tissue under both eucaloric and hypocaloric conditions. Participants were 69 healthy overweight men and women. Body composition was assessed by DXA and fat distribution by CT scan at baseline, after 8 weeks of a eucaloric diet intervention, and after 8 weeks of a hypocaloric (1000 kcal/d deficit) diet intervention. Participants were provided all food for both phases, and randomized to either a low GL diet (≤45 points per 1000 kcal; n=40) or high GL diet (>75 points per 1000 kcal, n=29). After the eucaloric phase, participants who consumed the low GL diet had 11% less intra-abdominal fat (IAAT) than those who consumed the high GL diet (P<0.05, adjusted for total fat mass and baseline IAAT). Participants lost an average of 5.8 kg during the hypocaloric phase, with no differences in the amount of weight loss with diet assignment (P=0.39). Following weight loss, participants who consumed the low GL diet had 4.4% less total fat mass than those who consumed the high GL diet (P<0.05, adjusted for lean mass and baseline fat mass). Consumption of a relatively low GL diet may affect energy partitioning, both inducing reduction in IAAT independent of weight change, and enhancing loss of fat relative to lean mass during weight loss.

A Lower-Carbohydrate, Higher-Fat Diet Reduces Abdominal and Intermuscular Fat and Increases Insulin Sensitivity in Adults at Risk of Type 2 Diabetes

“…As previously reported (27), in the eucaloric phase, loss of IAAT was significantly greater (P < 0.05; Figure 1A) in participants who consumed the lower-carbohydrate diet (11%) than in those who consumed the lower-fat diet. Furthermore, when comparing the 2 diet groups at the end of the eucaloric phase, participants who consumed the lower-carbohydrate diet had 11% less intraabdominal fat (IAAT) than did those who consumed the lowerfat diet (P < 0.05, adjusted for total fat mass and baseline IAAT).…”

“…Sixty-nine men and women aged 21-50 y were enrolled in the study. Details of the study were published previously (25)(26)(27). Briefly, inclusion criteria were BMI (in kg/m 2 ) of 25-45, weight <136 kg, age 21-50 y, nondiabetic, and no weight change of >2.3 kg over the past 6 mo.…”

Evening chronotype associates with obesity in severely obese subjects: interaction with CLOCK 3111T/C

“…1,29,30 Several studies have reported that evening-type individuals have a less healthy lifestyle than morning-types, with unfavorable dietary habits. 2,28 Nevertheless, in the current population, we did not find significant differences in dietary intake characteristics (total energy intake and macronutrient distribution) between evening and morning chronotypes.…”

Effects of a High Carbohydrate and High Protein Formula Diet On Body Composition and Metabolic Risk Parameters in Obese Subjects

“…However, our results demonstrate that the retention in BCM and LBM in HP group was probably not caused by an increase in physical activity, because these levels were similar in both groups [31]. Studies suggest that high GL diets and elevated insulin response might preserve the release of free fatty acids from adipose tissue due to the lipogenic actions of insulin, which maintain the BFM [40]. Considering the HC formula diets was classified as high GL food and the HP as low GL food [41] we found similar reduction of BFM after consumption of both formula diets.…”