Low Calorie Diet Benefits More Men Than Women

Low Calorie Diet Benefits More Men Than Women

It turned out that the beneficial effect of such a diet on men is not limited to the loss of extra pounds. At the same time, the side effects of fast weight loss are more pronounced in women.

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The popular low-calorie diet is more effective in helping men than women, according to a new Danish scientific paper published in the journal Diabetes, Obesity and Metabolism.

To participate in the study, scientists from the University of Copenhagen invited 2,000 people suffering from prediabetes. Prediabetes is a condition in which blood sugar levels rise significantly, but the disease itself has not yet developed. All participants followed a low-calorie diet.

After eight weeks on a low-calorie, high-protein diet, all participants lost about 10% of their body weight and improved sugar control. It turned out that the beneficial effect of such a diet on men is not limited to the loss of extra pounds. Along with this, it was noted that they lost more weight due to fat than women, their heart rate improved, the level of "bad cholesterol" decreased, and the waist circumference decreased.

At the same time, some negative effects of weight loss have been reported in women. They decreased the level of "good cholesterol" in the blood and the content of minerals in the bones, decreased muscle mass. Participants of both sexes had decreased levels of inflammatory markers in the blood and improved blood circulation.

Experts point out that this does not mean that women should give up a low-calorie diet. However, women should understand that after rapid weight loss, the diet should be as varied as possible. They should also work with doctors to monitor overall health.

The progression of type 2 diabetes can be greatly slowed down by lifestyle changes. First of all, this concerns the normalization of body weight and physical activity. People with prediabetes should remember that this condition easily develops into diabetes, so they should be especially vigilant.

The study's author, Dr. Pia Christense, says that it is planned to further establish how long the difference in the effect of a low-calorie diet on men and women is and whether programs should be developed to combat obesity depending on gender.