The role of low-fat diets in body weight control:: a meta-analysis of ad libitum dietary intervention studies

OBJECTIVES: Low-fat high-carbohydrate diets are recommended to prevent weight gain in normal weight subjects and reduce body weight in overweight and obese. However, their efficacy is controversial. We evaluated the efficacy of ad libitum low-fat diets in reducing body weight in non-diabetic individuals from the results of intervention trials. DESIGN: Studies were identified from a computerized search of the Medline database from January 1966 to July 1999 and other sources. Inclusion criteria were controlled trials lasting more than 2 months comparing ad libitum low-fat diets as the sole intervention with a control group consuming habitual diet or a medium-fat diet ad libitum. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Differences in changes in dietary fat intake, energy intake and body weight. Weighted mean differences for continuous data and 95% confidence intervals (Cls) were calculated. RESULTS: Two authors independently selected the studies meeting the inclusion criteria and extracted data from 16 trials (duration of 2-12 months) with 19 intervention groups, enrolling 1910 individuals, Fourteen were randomized. Weight loss was not the primary aim in 11 studies. Before the interventions the mean proportions of dietary energy from fat in the studies were 37.7% (95% Cl, 36.9-38.5) in the low-fat groups, and 37.4% (36.4-38.4) in the control groups. The low-fat intervention produced a mean fat reduction of 10.2% (8.1-12.3). Low-fat intervention groups showed a greater weight loss than control groups (3.2kg, 95% confidence interval 1.9-4.5 kg; P <0.0001). and a greater reduction in energy intake 1138 kJ/day, 95% confidence interval 564-1712 kJ/day, P= 0.002). Having a body weight 10 kg higher than the average pre-treatment body weight was associated with a 2.6 +/- 0.8 kg (P= 0.011) greater difference in weight loss. CONCLUSION: A reduction in dietary fat without intentional restriction of energy intake causes weight loss, which is more substantial in heavier subjects.