New study touts weight-loss benefits of low-fat diets

Fatty foods can be difficult to avoid. Many meals high in fat content are also tasty, such as full-fat cheese, red and processed meats, desserts and almost all fast food. But while these snacks and meals pack in taste, there may be more to watch out for than a high calorie count.

According to a recent report commissioned by the World Health Organization (WHO) Nutrition Guidance Expert Advisory Group (NUGAG) Subgroup on Diet and Health, eliminating fatty foods and replacing them with lower fat alternatives can help people shed pounds and keep off weight for the long-term.

"The effect isn't dramatic, like going on a diet. The research specifically looked at people who were cutting down on fat, but didn't aim to lose weight - so they were continuing to consume a normal amount of food," said lead researcher Lee Cooper, PhD, from UEA's Norwich Medical School.

A global recommendation
To update the current WHO guidelines that play a significant role in determining global recommendations for total fat intake, Cooper and the team of researchers carried out a comprehensive survey of 33 randomized control trials in North America, Europe and New Zealand. The study involved more than 73,000 men, women and children from these regions, and included participants with varying degrees of overall health levels. Two groups were designated: Those in the intervention unit were to eat less fat than usual, while the control still ate their normal amount.

The findings, taken by measuring weight and waistlines after roughly six months, show that when incorporating less fat in the diet, an individual loses about three-and-a-half pounds and cuts roughly 2 inches from the waist line.

Americans at risk
The U.S. Department of Agriculture and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' 2010 Dietary Guidelines for Americans suggests individuals keep trans fat intake as low as possible, as it contributes to coronary heart disease (CHD), the country's leading cause of death. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, reducing artificial trans fat consumption alone could prevent upwards of about 20,000 heart attacks and 7,000 CHD deaths a year in the United States, making it a serious health concern, especially for those who buy Plavix and other medications to treat cardiovascular conditions from an online pharmacy.

"This means having low fat milk and yogurt, cutting down on butter and cheese, and cutting the fat off meat," suggests Cooper. "Most importantly have fruit instead of fatty snacks like biscuits, cake and crisps. And remember, this isn't a diet, so don't take it to extremes, but work out a way of eating that you can stick to permanently."