Empowered Health Course · Lesson 24 · 2:31
There's a lot of controversy in the nutrition space. Some say low-carb diets are best for weight loss; others say a low-fat, plant-based diet is best. There's been a bit of a battle, but in general the literature says the two are fairly equal — you get about the same amount of weight loss with either.
Interestingly, when you look at studies of low-carb or low-fat diets, the consistent finding is wide variability between individuals. In the low-fat group, one person might gain a couple of pounds while another loses 40, though most lose around 5–10% of their body weight — and the same is true in the other group. We're not sure why some people are hyper-responders and others are quite resistant. Sometimes it has to do with life circumstances and the ability to follow a diet long-term, but it doesn't seem to be the quality of the diet — both are healthy, both limit ultra-processed foods, and both involve sitting down for most meals and choosing healthier snacks.
So, just like medications and lifestyle, we can do some trial and error with nutrition. There's no single best diet for everyone. For some people, "dieting" isn't even a helpful way to think about it. As you've probably heard, it's better to think of it as a lifestyle — developing a way of eating you genuinely enjoy, that's as healthful as possible within the limits and choices of your life.
This transcript has been lightly edited from the video for readability. For the complete experience, please watch the video above.