I commented a couple of years ago on a study that showed that that following a diet higher in fats resulted in better weight loss and compliance than the low-fat alternative. This was the most important study to date as it was not based on questionnaires as past studies so often are performed. The low fat group ate 1500 calories per day and the high fat group ate 1800 calories per day. Both diets were calorie-restricted. The high-fat diet win was tempered by the naysayers who said, “OK, it works better for weight loss but a lot of good that will do you if you have heart disease from all that fat”

A follow up study was then designed and published in the New England Journal of Medicine in 2008. In this study the low-fat model was compared to 2 other diets: the “Mediterranean Diet” and the high fat, low carb diet. In this study again, the low-fat plan fared the worst and the low carb, high-fat diet did the best for weight loss. The high-fat group added more protein, more cholesterol, and more fats than the other groups, and had the best of the weight loss results. The participants in this group also benefitted from the greatest improvement in cardiovascular risk with HDL/Cholesterol improving, and the blood triglyceride levels dropped significantly.

What is more impressive about the high fat, low carb group was that the model was set-up “cafeteria style” with a buffet set out and no set caloric restriction in the low-carb, high fat group. The other 2 dietary groups had their calories restricted at each meal to keep the daily intake to target.
If you were to look at the buffet, you would not see cookies or desserts. You would see vegetables, butter, olive oil and meats/fish. Refined foods disturb our natural regulation of food intake, so it is no surprise that in a diet that has no processed foods, people are able to self-regulate effectively.

Welcome to the FatBack Diet.