(November 9, 2009 - Insidermedicine)

While restricting either fats or carbohydrates can produce weight loss, only a low fat diet can also help improve mood over the long term, according to research published in the latest issue of the Archives of Internal Medicine.

Here is some advice for attaining a healthy weight:

•    Find out what your body mass index (BMI) is. Anything over 25 is considered overweight

•    If you are overweight or obese, be aware that losing as little as 10% of your body weight can improve your health

•    If you are trying to lose weight, aim for a healthy 1-2 lbs per week

Researchers out of Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation–Food and Nutritional Sciences in Adelaide randomly assigned over 100 individuals whose average age was 50 and who were all either overweight or obese to one of two diets. Both diets limited calorie intake, but one focused on keeping intake of fats low, while the other required a limited intake of carbohydrates.

After one year, the participants lost an average of nearly 14 kg, regardless of what diet they were on. Initially, both groups of participants also enjoyed improvements in mood, including lower levels of hostility, anger, anxiety and depression. These benefits were maintained throughout the one-year study only among those on the low fat diet, however.

Today’s research suggests that the weight loss benefits of a low carbohydrate diet may be offset by its negative impact on mood, as compared with a low fat diet.