What I Learned Actually Reading That New Low-Fat Diets Are Dead Study

So last night the embargo lifted on a study that looked at low-fat diets and weight loss. I read the article a few days ago as it was sent to me so that I could discuss with the CBC. Given the tenor of the discussion I'm seeing on Twitter right now, I've decided to share the 7 tweets I posted yesterday that coincided with the embargo's lifting.

1. So embargo now lifted on meta-analysis that found low-fat diets no better than any other diet for weight loss.

— Yoni Freedhoff, MD (@YoniFreedhoff) October 29, 2015

2. Study did find that calorie restricted low-fat had worse outcomes than non-calorie restricted high fat (low-carb) diets.

— Yoni Freedhoff, MD (@YoniFreedhoff) October 29, 2015

3. But what's amazing to me is that diet proponents and the media are going to be shouting about a study that in the end is quibbling

— Yoni Freedhoff, MD (@YoniFreedhoff) October 29, 2015

4. about weight losses amounting to just 5-7lbs in a year, and differences of 1-2lbs between diets. Ultimately study shows all "diets" suck.

— Yoni Freedhoff, MD (@YoniFreedhoff) October 29, 2015

5. That all diets suck isn't news. Nor do findings provide brag-worthiness to diets conferring an additional 1 or 2lbs of yearly losses.

— Yoni Freedhoff, MD (@YoniFreedhoff) October 29, 2015

6. Biggest predictor of longterm success is whether or not U actually enjoy your life/diet while losing. If you don't, weight's coming back.

— Yoni Freedhoff, MD (@YoniFreedhoff) October 29, 2015

7. Inconvenient truth of healthful living is that it does require effort, but if effort is perceived as suffering, it's not going to last.

— Yoni Freedhoff, MD (@YoniFreedhoff) October 29, 2015