From the extreme Atkins Diet to the more modest Zone Diet, low carbohydrate diets are all the rage, embraced by celebrities and the general public alike as a quick way to lose weight. These diets claim to reduce the risk of diabetes, heart disease and other chronic diseases as well as to promote general good health.
Indeed, so great has been the promotion of such diets that food companies, supermarkets, restaurants and some airlines are offering a range of food products and meals which are exceptionally low in carbohydrate. And now, at this weekend's NZ branch of the Australasian Society for the Study of Obesity conference in Auckland, a new range of low-carb products is about to be launched.
But what is the scientific evidence for the benefit of such diets?
Researchers at the University of Otago have carried out a series of studies in New Zealand which will provide some of the answers and those are due to be published in major international scientific and medical journals in the near future. However, the New Zealand Dietetic Association and Otago researchers have examined in depth the various research papers published to date and offer the following interim recommendations based on the best available evidence.