Consumption of a 4-Week, Carbohydrate-Restricted Diet Improves Food Intake Motivation in Overweight Subjects

BackgroundDiets high in fat and protein, and low in carbohydrate (CHO), may aid in weight loss because they reduce hunger and increase satiety. This occurs despite lower concentrations of insulin, a putative satiety hormone. However, whether such diets alter other aspects of food intake motivation, such as cognitive restraint and disinhibition, is unknown. The goal of the present study was to assess changes in food intake motivation during rapid weight loss associated with the consumption of an energy-restricted, high-fat, high-protein, low-CHO diet. MethodsNondiabetic subjects, with characteristics of the metabolic syndrome (10 males, 10 females, BMI 34 ± 3 kg/m2, age 40± 8y), were provided all food for 2 wks producing an energy deficit of 1198 ± 655 kcal/d. Dietary intake of fat was 54±4 % of energy (%E), protein, 28±2 %E, and CHO 14±1 %E. For the next 2 wks, subjects prepared their own diets to match the same food composition. Before and after the combined 4 wks of weight loss, body composition was mea...