A Low Carb for Obese Kids can be a most effective Diet

According to a recent study, a low carb can be the most effective diet for obese kids. Though, all the proper diets are effective enough in maintaining weight but a reduced glycemic load diet is really promising in weight loss.

A reduced glycemic load diet is one that decides for how many carbs are there in the food and what is the amount of blood glucose levels is raised by each gram of carbohydrate in the food.

The Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Centre made a study on low-carb, reduced glycemic load and portion-controlled diets with obese children, which revealed that children have more difficulty following a strict, low-carb diet, mostly on long term basis.

According to Shelley Kirk, PhD, RD, Centre for Better Health and Nutrition at the Heart Institute, Cincinnati Children's and lead author of the study, children are well adapted to a reduced glycemic load diet and this can be the most effective approach to a paediatric weight management.

Dr. Kirk said "This is the first long-term randomised clinical trial to compare the effectiveness and safety of these three diets using a family-based behavioural approach for younger obese children".

"All three diet groups had significant improvement in weight status and other health measures and showed no adverse effects. Since all three diets were effective, practitioners can offer any one of these approaches for helping obese children achieve a healthier weight." She added.

The study was carried on 7 to 12 year old children, who were assigned to follow a specific diet for 12 months.

During the first three months of study all the participants were given weekly dietary counselling and every other week they were provided a group exercise session.

The assigned diet was continued for nine months and the height, weight, body fat and many other clinical measures were noted at the beginning of the study and in every three, six and twelve months.

The clinical measures that were noted down included cardiovascular risk factors, such as blood pressure, cholesterol, triglycerides and insulin. Among the 102 participant children, 85 of them were able to complete the session successfully.

The enrolled children were observed to show an improvement in their body mass index and percent body fat after three months and the changes were maintained till the 12th month.

All the Children in the three groups successfully maintained a reduced caloric intake, even in the final nine months of the study, that was carried out without any guidance or counselling from the researchers.

"This raises the possibility that an intensive initial intervention for any of these diets can lead to long-term successful weight management," added Dr. Kirk.

The study has also been published in an online Journal of Pediatrics.

Source: With inputs from ANI