Slimmers don’t need to cut sugar out of their diets claims new research from Scotland, where 60% of adults are overweight or obese.

Researchers from Queen Margaret University, Edinburgh, recruited 69 overweight women to take part in a 12-week weight loss study. The women were randomised to one of four groups; (1) no advice, (2) dietary advice alone, (3) physical activity advice alone, (4) combination of diet and physical activity advice. The dietary advice included instructions on how to follow a low fat, high carbohydrate diet (containing 10% of energy from sugar). The advice on physical activity centred on walking.

Those in group 4 lost the most weight (average 4.2 kg), while groups 2 and 4 reduced their fat intakes. Compliance with the diet was excellent and the researchers considered that addition of sugar to the diet contributed to this by improving palatability.

For more information, see
Kirkwood L et al (2007). Effects of advice on dietary intake and/or physical activity on body composition, blood lipids and insulin resistance following a low-fat, sucrose-containing, high-carbohydrate, energy-restricted diet. International Journal of Food Sciences and Nutrition, Vol 58, pp 383-397.

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