Lower Carb Diets Benefit Girls

The epidemic of childhood obesity has researchers looking for solutions. Researchers at the University of Alabama have found that a low-carbohydrate diet can improve metabolic measures in a group of overweight African American girls. In this study, 26 youngsters between the ages of 9 and 14 were randomly assigned to a lower carbohydrate or a higher carbohydrate diet for five weeks. At the end of the study, the girls who had been consuming the diet lower in carbs had lower cholesterol and triglycerides as well as better glucose control, whether they lost weight or not. The scientists were encouraged by this pilot study and plan to conduct a larger one to learn more about the role of carbohydrates in metabolic development.

[Journal of Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition, online Dec. 1, 2011]