Study Finds No Difference Between Popular Diets and Heart Disease Risk Reduction

Category: Conditions of the Circulatory System

Popular diets such as Atkins, Ornish, the Zone, and Weight Watchers claim to be effective at increasing weight loss and reducing the risk of heart disease. A study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association in January compared the outcomes of weight loss and cardiac risk factors among the popular diets.

The study enrolled 160 participants from 2000 to 2002. It measured total weight loss, adherence to diet, blood lipids, C-Reactive Protein (a cardiac risk factor), blood pressure, blood sugar and insulin.

At completion of the study each diet caused a slight decrease in weight from 4.8 pounds to 7.3 pounds. The difference between the four diets was insignificant. Each of the diets also resulted in a decrease in LDL cholesterol, with no significant difference between the groups. Blood pressure and blood sugar were not changed by the diet.

Changes in C-Reactive Protein, insulin, and the ratio of total cholesterol to HDL were slightly decreased and mostly associated with the amount of weight loss, not a particular diet. The study also found that adherence to each of the diets was low, but increased adherence was associated with increased weight loss.

The study authors concluded that there was not a significant difference between the popular diets in regards to heart disease risk reduction or weight loss. The amount of weight lost was positively associated with a lowered risk of heart disease. Also, greater adherence was associated with increased weight loss and reduction of cardiac risk factors.

Posted by on December 6, 2008 10:00 AM