Key Finding: Personalized diets might not help you lose more weight than low-fat diets. 😮 Both diets can help you lose similar weight, but the low-fat diet may lead to a greater reduction in resting energy expenditure. 💪
Did you know that people can have different responses to the same diet? 😮 Yes! This may be due to differences in genetics, metabolism, gut bacteria, and lifestyle factors like sleep, stress, and exercise. 😮 A recent study in The JAMA Network Open journal aimed to figure out whether a personalized diet or a low-fat diet works better for weight loss. Let’s dive in! 🏊♀️
👩🔬 The study was a 6-month clinical trial with 269 adults, aged 18 to 80, who had abnormal glucose metabolism and obesity. Participants were randomly assigned to follow either a low-fat diet (less than 25% of energy intake) or a personalized diet. The personalized diet used a machine learning algorithm to estimate each person’s postprandial glycemic response (PPGR) to specific foods. 🍽️
Those in the personalized group also got color-coded meal scores 🥇 on a mobile app based on their estimated PPGR. Both groups received 14 web-based group counseling 👩⚕️ and used a smartphone app 📱 to track their food intake and physical activity.
The researchers measured the participants’ weight, body composition, resting energy expenditure, and adaptive thermogenesis (the change in energy expenditure after weight loss) at baseline 🗓 and after 6 months 🗓️.
🧐 After 6 months, researchers found that the personalized diet didn’t result in greater weight loss compared to the low-fat diet. There were no significant differences in body composition and adaptive thermogenesis between the groups. 🤔 However, the change in resting energy expenditure was significantly greater in the low-fat diet group. 🚴♂️
They found that 👁️ both groups lost similar amounts of weight (about 4% of their initial weight), and there were no significant differences in body composition or adaptive thermogenesis between the groups. The only difference was that the low-fat group had a greater reduction in resting energy expenditure than the personalized group, which may be related to a greater loss of fat-free mass. 💪
As a weight loss coach 👨💼, I think it’s essential to consider individual differences when designing a diet plan. The most important thing is to find a diet that you can stick to 🔂, that meets your nutritional needs 🥗, and that helps you achieve your desired outcomes. 🙌 While the personalized diet in this study didn’t show better results than the low-fat diet, it’s possible that future studies will explore other ways to personalize diets for greater success. 📚
So, what do you think of this study? Do you prefer a personalized diet or a low-fat diet? Share your thoughts and experiences in the comments below! 💬
