There are a variety of diets available for people who wish to lose weight. Among these are low carb diets such as the Atkins diet, Zone diet or South Beach diet. Another diet that is different in some ways from the low carb concept is the Weight Watchers diet. The differences in the diet may be enough to cause weight gain if you change from one to the other.
Low Carb Diets
Low carbohydrate diets are developed on the theory that insulin prevents the breakdown of fats by allowing the sugar from carbohydrate consumption to be used for energy. Proponents say that eating fewer carbohydrates results in lower insulin levels, which causes the body to burn stored fat for energy. Low carb diets generally have a stronger focus on proteins such as meat, fish, poultry and eggs, with controlled amounts of non-starchy vegetables. Most grains, fruits, breads, pasta and sweets are either limited or eliminated entirely on low carb diets.
Weight Watchers
In contrast, the Weight Watchers diet focuses on counting calories by using a point system for different kinds of foods. Higher calorie foods are given more points under a complicated formula, and the dieter must stay at or under the point target to lose weight. There are no restrictions as to the type of food, so a person on Weight Watchers is likely to eat more carbohydrates.
Research on Protein
A diet that is high in protein is more likely to cause satiety, or a feeling of fullness. In the July 2005 "American Journal of Clinical Nutrition", researchers noted that increasing protein to 30 percent of intake while not changing carbohydrates causes a sustained decrease in calorie intake. In another study in the November 2006 issue of "Current Opinions in Clinical Nutrition and Metabolic Care," researchers noted that protein is more satiating than either carbohydrate or fat; when weight loss is the goal, it is most effective to increase protein while reducing energy intake. In other words, decreasing carbohydrates.
Weight Gain After a Switch
Changing from a low carb diet to Weight Watchers may cause an increase in carbohydrates while fat and protein remain the same, according to the cited research. As a result, the dieter may gain weight after making the change. Since low carb diets and Weight Watchers have such different systems for managing food intake, it is also possible that, in switching from one diet to another, the dieter will increase the number of total calories eaten, which can also cause a weight gain.
References
- MayoClinic.com; Low-carb diet; Mayo Clinic Staff; may 2010
- University of Maryland Medical Center: Low-Carb Diets: The Right Way to Go?; April 2007
- "American Journal of Clinical Nutrition"; A High-Protein Diet Induces Sustained Reductions in Appetite, Ad Libitum Caloric Intake, and Body Weight Despite Compensatory Changes in Diurnal Plasma Leptin And Ghrelin Concentrations; D.S. Weigle et.al.; July 2005
- "Current Opinions in Clinical Nutrition and Metabolic Care"; The Significance of Protein in Food Intake and Body Weight Regulation; M.S. Westerterp-Plantenga; November 2006
- TheFactsAboutFitness.com; The Weight Watchers Pro Points Plan: Does It Work?; Christian Finn, M.S.
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