How macronutrient composition of your food while on a calorie-restricted diet can influence your results

July 25th, 2016 by

Here’s another recap on a study that shows how the macronutrient composition of your food while on a calorie-restricted diet can influence your results.

In this 12-week study presented the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, researchers (the same from yesterday’s post) split a 100 overweight and obese women into two groups. Both groups were put on a calorie-restricted diet, which equated to 60% of their caloric needs (i.e. the amount of calories they would need to maintain their weight). The difference between the diets was that one group consumed a high-protein diet, while the other group consumed a diet higher in carbs. The macronutrient breakdown for the high protein group was 34% protein, 46% carbs and 20% fat. The high-carb group consumed a diet consisting 17% protein, 64% carbs and 20% fat.

Before and after the study, the researchers measured the body fat levels of all the subjects. What they found was that both groups lost about the same amount of weight, but the higher protein group lost more body fat. That being said, we at LBC generally recommend a higher protein intake while on a calorie-restricted diet (about 0.8-1.2g of protein per pound of body weight).

Noakes, M. et al. Effect of an energy-restricted, high-protein, low-fat diet relative to a conventional high-carbohydrate, low-fat diet on weight loss, body composition, nutritional status, and markers of cardiovascular health in obese women. Am J Clin Nutr. 2005 Jun;81(6):1298-306.