ThorBreakBeatGod

Mr .Taubes,

Here are several studies that refute the central hypothesis you present in your books, relating to Metabolic Advantage. Most of which supporting the "Calories in / Calories out" method of weight loss. Faced with such (peer-reviewed) evidence, do you feel that your hypothesis still holds up, or would you like to concede that it needs revision?

The Studies:

Several metabolic ward studies have shown that there is no difference in weight loss when protein intake was held constant.¹

1. Metabolic effects of isoenergetic nutrient exchange over 24 hours in relation to obesity in women.² No large differences in energy expenditure between the two diets (LFHC/HFLC) or between the groups (lean, obese, post-obese). LFHC participants showed higher thermogenic effect.

2. Energy-intake restriction and diet-composition effects on energy expenditure in men.. Men fed at maintanence for 2wks, 4wks at 50% of maintanence, 1 wk at maintanence at either 40% or 20% fat. Weight decreased from 96.6 to 91.5kg, bf 30.4% to 27.7%. There were no significant differences in 24-h EE or energy requirements per unit body weight due to diet composition or weight loss.

3. Nutrient balance in humans: effects of diet composition.. 3 Men, 5 Women ate HCLF / HFLC for 7 days each. 6 were studied for an additional week at a 45%fat diet. Diet composition did not affect total daily energy expenditure but did affect daily nutrient oxidation by rapidly shifting substrate oxidation to more closely reflect the composition of the diet.

4. Nutrient balance and energy expenditure during ad libitum feeding of high-fat and high-carbohydrate diets in humans.. 11 lean 10 obese subjects were fed HCLF / HFLC diets for 1wk each with unlimited energy intake. Subjects on the HF diet had HIGHER intake than on the HC diet, but energy expenditure was not different.

5. Substrate oxidation and energy expenditure in athletes and nonathletes consuming isoenergetic high- and low-fat diets.

6. Regulation of macronutrient balance in healthy young and older men.. Cross-sectional diet study in which male participants were randomly assigned to a diet: 30%F/55%C, 60%F/25%C, 15%F,70%C. Energy expenditure did not vary across diets or between groups, Macronutrient Oxidation were not significantly different.

7. The effect of protein intake on 24-h energy expenditure during energy restriction.. Cross-over study where caloric intake was either high protein (mixed-diet) or low-protein (and either HF or HC). Highprotein had lower EE decline than other two though weightloss was similar across all three. [Highprotein is good]

8. Effects of dietary fat and carbohydrate exchange on human energy metabolism.. Low fat (10%), mixed (30%) and high-fat (50%) diets were observed over three days, calculating RMR, thermogenesis and EE over 3 days. Lowfat showed higher fat oxidation, suggesting it preferable to low carb for fat loss.

9. Energy expenditure in humans: effects of dietary fat and carbohydrate.. ** 14 non-diabetic subjects / 6 T2 Diabetics had their TDEE measured while on either high fat, high carb diets at 'maintanence.' Expenditures were the same between diets/groups.**

10. Failure to increase lipid oxidation in response to increasing dietary fat content in formerly obese women.^2. Carb / Fat EE was measured in formerly obese individuals and a control group. Only fat intake was modified. No differences observed in low/med fat groups as far as macro balances. High fat, however formerly obese women failed to increase ratio of fat to carbohydrate oxidation appropriately.

11. Energy intake required to maintain body weight is not affected by wide variation in diet composition.. liquid diets were fed to 16 subjects with varying fat content (15%-85%) with a constant 15% protein. No significant variation in energy need observed

12. Weight-loss with low or high carbohydrate diet?. 68 patients were followed for 12 weeks in which subjects followed either a low (25%) or high (45%) carb diet. Weight loss was similar between groups, as was loss of adipose.

13. Effect of high protein vs high carbohydrate intake on insulin sensitivity, body weight, hemoglobin A1c, and blood pressure in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.. 12 subjects followed either high carb or high protein hypocaloric diets for 8 weeks. High carb showed a decrease in hemoglobin A1c, as well as increase insulin sensitivity. No observable change between groups on libid levels

For the non-scientific people who want some explanation about all this stuff:

• Is a calorie a calorie?

To continue the parade of literature showing no winner in the carbs v. fat battle royale:

1. Long Term Effects of Energy-Restricted Diets Differing in Glycemic Load on Metabolic Adaptation and Body Composition. Randomized trial of either High Glycemic or Low Glycemic diets administered for 6 months, then self-administered for 6 months at 30% caloric restriction. TEE, RMR, FFM were measured three times through the study. No significant changes in TDEE or RMR between groups, however, LG group DID show more weight loss in those individuals that lost >5% (i.e. low carb lost more in that sub-group, but not in those who were <5% in weight loss.)

2. Long-term effects of 2 energy-restricted diets differing in glycemic load on dietary adherence, body composition, and metabolism in CALERIE: a 1-y randomized controlled trial.

3. Efficacy and safety of low-carbohydrate diets: a systematic review.

4. Popular Diets: A Scientific Review

5. Effects of 4 weight-loss diets differing in fat, protein, and carbohydrate on fat mass, lean mass, visceral adipose tissue, and hepatic fat: results from the POUNDS LOST trial.

6. In type 2 diabetes, randomisation to advice to follow a low-carbohydrate diet transiently improves glycaemic control compared with advice to follow a low-fat diet producing a similar weight loss.

7. Comparison of weight-loss diets with different compositions of fat, protein, and carbohydrates.

8. Similar weight loss with low- or high-carbohydrate diets.

9. Energy intake required to maintain body weight is not affected by wide variation in diet composition.

10. Effect of energy restriction, weight loss, and diet composition on plasma lipids and glucose in patients with type 2 diabetes.

11. Effects of moderate variations in macronutrient composition on weight loss and reduction in cardiovascular disease risk in obese, insulin-resistant adults.

12. Atkins and other low-carbohydrate diets: hoax or an effective tool for weight loss?

13. Ketogenic low-carbohydrate diets have no metabolic advantage over nonketogenic low-carbohydrate diets.

14. Lack of suppression of circulating free fatty acids and hypercholesterolemia during weight loss on a high-fat, low-carbohydrate diet.

15. Low-fat versus low-carbohydrate weight reduction diets: effects on weight loss, insulin resistance, and cardiovascular risk: a randomized control trial.

16. Comparison of the Atkins, Ornish, Weight Watchers, and Zone diets for weight loss and heart disease risk reduction: a randomized trial.

17. Long-term effects of a very-low-carbohydrate weight loss diet compared with an isocaloric low-fat diet after 12 mo.

18. Weight and metabolic outcomes after 2 years on a low-carbohydrate versus low-fat diet: a randomized trial.

19. The effect of a plant-based low-carbohydrate ("Eco-Atkins") diet on body weight and blood lipid concentrations in hyperlipidemic subjects.

To come at this problem from the other side, here are three studies showing no difference in weight gain when the ratio of carbs:fat is manipulated:

1. Fat and carbohydrate overfeeding in humans: different effects on energy storage.³

2. Macronutrient disposal during controlled overfeeding with glucose, fructose, sucrose, or fat in lean and obese women.

3. Effects of isoenergetic overfeeding of either carbohydrate or fat in young men.

It may also interest you to learn that dietary fat is what is stored as bodily fat, when a caloric excess is consumed. And that for dietary carbohydrates to be stored as fat (which requires conversion through the process called 'de novo lipogenesis' the carbohydrate portion of one's diet alone must approach or exceed one's TDEE.

Lyle's got great read on this subject, but if you prefer a more scientific one I suggest you give this review a gander:

• De novo lipogenesis in humans: metabolic and regulatory aspects.

For a great primer on insulin (with tons of citations) and how it really functions, check out this series:

Insulin…an Undeserved Bad Reputation

The series was summarized quite well in this post.

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¹ If you're really looking for a metabolic advantage through macronutrient manipulation, you'd be far better off putting your money on protein. There's actually some evidence that higher intake levels do convey a small metabolic advantage.

² These two papers actually found a decreased amount of energy expenditure in the high fat diets.

³ This study found a greater of amount of fat gain in the high fat diet, though weight gain was still similar.

EDIT: "Mr."

EDIT: EDIT: I'm working on a tl;dr that gives an overview of the content of the studies for those who don't have time to read them today (though you should at some point.)

UPDATE: In an effort to make sure I'm giving accurate/correct synopsis of the studies listed for y'all, It's taking me a lot longer as there are a few that I have to re-read. Feel free to gleam over the abstracts, though, as they provide a lot more detail (numbers, etc.) Mr. Taubes however, should be familiar with most of these studies, so he should be able to answer my question.

UPDATE 2: To all the users sending threats of violence via PM - You've been reported. to /r/keto - I've seen two threads now organizing downvote brigades because I'm asking about science. Stop it. It's Taubes, not Ron Paul.

Thank you for your response Mr. Taubes.

For those who aren't aware: Nusi (Nutritional Science Initiative) is a NFP that Mr. Taubes is deeply involved in.

I look forward to reading through the papers you provided.

I mean, you're only 22... we are all self-conscious AF at that age. Once you're in your 30s you'll be telling people you have two clits as an ice-breaker

My beetus would like an answer.

the exercises are stored in flat python files.

[4rlz]