Letter: Low-carb diet is the secret

OPINION: Shedding kilos has transformed their lives (Nov 17-18), about two women who have lost significant weight, tells a very interesting story. Anna Petrie lost weight by dietary changes, specifically by cutting out carbs, and by exercise. Her weight loss must be caused mainly by her cutting out carbs.

Exercise has been shown to be ineffective at causing weight loss. It might make one feel better, but many studies show that it's insufficient to cause weight loss by itself.

Carbohydrate restriction, however, is known to be effective at causing weight loss and keeping weight off. Typically on a low-carb diet with minimal calorie restriction, you will lose about a kilo a week - not far from what Anna lost.

Brioney Henderson-McGregor tried all sorts of diets, but doesn't mention a low-calorie diet. Nothing worked and she eventually resorted to bariatric surgery.

Had she adopted a low-calorie diet, I think she'd have avoided surgery. Substantial evidence exists that over-consumption of carbohydrates causes obesity. It didn't exist in hunter-gatherer societies before they were introduced to carbohydrates. The rise in obesity in the United States has coincided with a rise in carbohydrate consumption and, astonishingly, a drop in fat consumption.

ANDREW LOGAN

Te Aro

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