Carbohydrates are the main source of energy for the body and constitute a major portion of the everyday diet. Excess intake of carbohydrates may lead to weight gain and may hamper the functioning of insulin. A new study published in The BMJ (The British Medical Journal) has shown that lowering carbohydrate intake may help increase energy expenditure and may lead to weight loss. The study was conducted on 164 participants in the US between the age of 18 and 65 years and who were overweight (BMI level – 25 kg/m2 or more). The participants were provided with high, moderate and low carb diets of different carbohydrate to fat ratio and were observed for 10 weeks. The results have shown that people who were on a low carb diet were able to spend more energy in their daily routine than people on a high carb diet. The results have also that people on a low carb diet had a lower secretion of ghrelin, a hormone responsible for hunger.
Source: The BMJ, 2025
