Cutting calories improves health markers even in slim adults, study reports

[DCUK NewsBot]

Adults at a healthy weight who cut around 300 calories a day could significantly improve their blood glucose levels and lower their type 2 diabetes risk, research suggests. This calorie reduction also led to improvements in cholesterol profile, blood pressure and other health markers. The Duke University Health System conducted the trial to build on the hypothesis that it's not just weight loss that leads to health improvements, but a more complex change in the metabolism caused by eating fewer calories. The researchers randomised 218 adults under the age of 50 with healthy BMI levels to either eat their normal diet or eat three meals a day while cutting one-fourth of their daily calories. The calorie restriction group were also provided all three of their daily meals for a month while they learned about the basics of cutting calories. The study ran for two years, with participants lowering their calorie intake by choosing from six different meals plans that accommodated cultural preferences or dietary requirements. Participants also attended group and individual counselling for the first six months of the trial. Despite being instructed to restrict calories by 25%, the average calorie reduction among the calorie restriction group after two years was around 12%, equal to 300 calories. This group sustained a 10% drop in weight, 71% of which was fat. They also experienced improvements in markers of metabolic disease, heart disease, cancer and cognitive decline. "This shows that even a modification that is not as severe as what we used in this study could reduce the burden of diabetes and cardiovascular disease that we have in this country," said lead author William E. Kraus, M.D., a cardiologist at Duke Health. "People can do this fairly easily by simply watching their little indiscretions here and there, or maybe reducing the amount of them, like not snacking after dinner." The researchers do not fully understand the mechanisms behind the improvements, but have already begun tests exploring the results. "There's something about caloric restriction, some mechanism we don't yet understand that results in these improvements," said Kraus. "We have collected blood, muscle and other samples from these participants and will continue to explore what this metabolic signal or magic molecule might be." The findings appear in The Lancet Diabetes and Endocrinology.

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[Guzzler]

https://twitter.com/TheEconomist/status/1149574796029521921

Very short vid on the death of the calorie.

 

[ickihun]

800cals helped me lose some weight. Roux-en-y even more. Lchf didn't lose me anything but low carb low calorie did.
We are all different though. Also injecting insulin works with fat as a slow burner so maybe more fat accumulated due to immobility status a various points.

My current weight loss is definitely due to less food. Also I'm able to move more and less shuffling.
We are all a different weight currently and hv different fat distribution. Different amount of cells and capability to store.

I say go with what works for you.

 

[Mr_Pot]

https://twitter.com/TheEconomist/status/1149574796029521921

Very short vid on the death of the calorie.

I don't disagree with anything in the video but that doesn't mean that a measure of the energy in food is not useful as long as it is correctly applied. Calculations of how much weight you will lose by a certain reduction in calories clearly is simplistic and doesn't work. However, in general a high calorie diet increases weight and a low calorie diet reduces weight.

 

[Guzzler]

I don't disagree with anything in the video but that doesn't mean that a measure of the energy in food is not useful as long as it is correctly applied. Calculations of how much weight you will lose by a certain reduction in calories clearly is simplistic and doesn't work. However, in general a high calorie diet increases weight and a low calorie diet reduces weight.

Then we will have to agree to disagree.