Comparing Weight Loss Diets and Energy Supply

Comparing Weight Loss Diets and Energy Supply

Ironically, for a country where the majority of its population is considered obese by its own standards, dieting is more popular than ever in the United States. With the heightened popularity of dieting in American culture, it’s no surprise that a plethora of commercially endorsed weight-loss diets exist, however the effectiveness of these diets vary. Despite the large amount of existing weight-loss diets, a substantial amount of popular diets emphasize either limiting the consumption of saturated fat or carbohydrates1 in order to lose weight. The effectiveness of a diet can be judged in its ability to encourage weight-loss and keep the weight off—longevity is a key issue. With respect to longevity, energy transformation from food to biological energy is significantly important in how painless a diet can be. Let’s face it, it’s not at all desirable (let alone comfortable) to proceed through the day with low blood sugar, having hunger. We humans are lazy creatures and have a low threshold for discomfort; the easier it is to conform to the eating restrictions of a diet, the more likely that the diet will remain in use (given that the diet is effective). Low-fat weight-loss diets are superior to low-carbohydrate diets because they provide a sustained energy supply in a manor that’s flexible enough to adapt to almost any lifestyle.

In comparing weight-loss diets, the matter is fairly complex so it’s important to take consideration of the components associated with a weight-loss diet. Glycemic responses are a critical part in assessing a weight-loss diet’s efficiency and these response trends differ substantially between low-fat diets and low-...

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...cally flawed because these diets deprive the body of the principal energy source that is used for even the most basic operations. Sure, low-carbohydrate diets are effective in weight-loss but so is anorexia. Just because low-carbohydrate diets are effective in the short-run, doesn’t mean the diet is healthy. In terms of energy sustainability, low-fat and low-carbohydrate diets are practically opposites in nature. This difference has substantial significance in that it indirectly implies that consuming low-carbohydrate foods is a regimented diet and eating foods low in fat is a healthy lifestyle.

1 Carbohydrates are a food group heavily present in grains; they are the primary storage form of glucose.

2 Fat also stores biological energy but it’s primarily for reserve purposes and is only utilized during times of strenuous activity or in dire circumstances.