It’s not how much carbohydrate, fat, protein, or sugar is in that double cheeseburger, but how many calories it has.

by Sarah Toland

It turns out it’s not how much carbohydrate, fat, protein, or sugar is in that double cheeseburger, but how many calories it has, if you’re looking to lose weight. At least this was the conclusion of a study from the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, contradicting earlier research suggesting that high-protein or low-carb diets trigger weight loss. Researchers placed several hundred overweight people on four calorie-restricted diets that differed in proportions of protein, fat, and carbs. After six months, and again after two years, all participants lost the same amount of weight, even those who ate a high-carb diet. Researcher George Bray says “adherence to a dietary plan” is the biggest factor in weight loss; in other words, if you adopt a diet that makes you eat fewer calories, no matter what type of diet it is, you’ll lose weight. So why do some slim down on a low-carb plan? Protein and fat are more filling, so people consume fewer calories. It’s also easier to eat less when you rule out an entire food group.