Not all low-carb diets are created equal when it comes to losing weight. A recent study from Harvard University has sounded the alarm on this issue, so listen closely if you’re in search of ways to trim down and shed those extra pounds.

Picture this – researchers at Harvard discovered that low-carb diets containing refined carbohydrates or relying on meat-based protein actually led to weight gain. Outrageous, right? But wait, don’t panic just yet. They also found that only low-carb diets incorporating plant-based protein and healthy fats, along with whole grains, were effective in helping people lose weight.

Dr. Binkai Liu, the lead author of the study, had this to say: “The quality of low carbohydrate diets may play a critical role in modulating long-term weight change. Only low carbohydrate diets that emphasised high-quality protein, fat, and carbohydrates from whole grains and other plant-based foods were associated with less weight gain.”

Here’s the deal – about 38 per cent of adults in England are overweight, while an additional 26 per cent are obese. That’s a significant number of individuals struggling with their weight. And guess what? Obesity costs the NHS an astonishing £6.1 billion per year. But here’s the shocker – the total cost of all related conditions is believed to be much higher. Scary!

So, low-carb diets – the ones that cut out carbohydrates like pasta, bread, and sugary foods – have been seen as a way to assist with weight loss and blood sugar control. However, the latest study, published in JAMA Network Open, analysed data from over 123,000 adults to determine if the type of low-carb diet had an impact on weight loss.

Here’s the exciting part – researchers monitored individuals on low-carb diets that emphasised either animal-based proteins and fats and refined carbohydrates like white bread, or plant-based proteins and healthy fats. Diets were assessed every four years using questionnaires. And what they discovered was fascinating – those who consumed the fewest refined carbs experienced more significant weight loss, while those who consumed the most gained the most weight. And surprisingly, the differences were more pronounced in people who were already obese. Double shocker!

Dr. Liu also mentioned: “We found divergent associations with weight changes in that the low carb diets that emphasise the intake of high-quality macronutrients from healthy plant-based foods were associated with less weight gain. Low carb diets that emphasise animal-sourced proteins and fats or refined carbohydrates were associated with more weight gain. These associations were more apparent among younger, heavier, and less active individuals.”

So, there you have it – if you’re considering a low-carb diet to shed some pounds, make sure you’re sourcing high-quality protein, fat, and carbohydrates from whole grains and other plant-based foods. This could be the key to finally bidding farewell to those stubborn love handles.