New Research Shows Women Lose Weight On Paleo Diet
The results of a study recently published by the Edith Cowan University (ECU), on 23 May 2016, found that the Paleo diet leads to weight loss among women.
According to Angela Genoni (ECU lead Researcher), women on the Paleo diet lost an average of two kilograms more during the period of the trial than those women on the recommended Australian Guide to Healthy Eating (AGHE) diet.
Interestingly, both groups were reported to have lost weight over the period of the trial, however the Paleo group lost about 4.3% of their body weight versus the 1.6% that those on the AGHE diet lost.
Some Of the Significant Results Of the Trial
Source: Edith Cowan University – MDPI: http://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/8/5/314/html
- Body weight and waist circumference decreased in both groups, with a significantly greater decrease in the Paleolithic group compared to the AGHE group
- Reduction in fat mass (p < 0.01, d = −1.12) was greater in the Paleolithic group compared with the AGHE group.
- Loss of weight was in part associated with the percentage of energy derived from protein (p = 0.04), such that increased protein intake resulted in a trend towards greater weight loss.
- There were no significant differences between dietary groups in biomarkers of metabolism (fasting C-reactive protein, glucose, insulin, urinary sodium or creatinine) and no notable changes in serum α-carotene or lycopene.
- 3.8% reduction in waist circumference on a Paleolithic diet. – Similar, but slightly larger changes to body composition have been reported by Ryberg et al.,who found a 5.3% reduction in body weight and 7.5% decrease in waist circumference in ten post-menopausal women using an ad-libitum Paleolithic diet over a slightly longer, five-week period.
- Osterdahl also used healthy subjects in a three-week intervention and found a 3.5% reduction in body weight and 2.0% drop in waist circumference.
- This weight loss supports previous findings that lower carbohydrate diets are associated with greater losses of fat mass over a short term period
- The women who participated in the study were aged 47 ± 13 years, with BMI 27 ± 4 kg/m2 & without any significant differences in subject or dietary characteristics.
39 women were finally analyzed in the study- 22 on the Paleo diet
- 17 on the AGHE diet
Those women on the standard AGHE diet had to increase intake of vegetable, fruit & whole grain foods whilst reducing fat intake. They also had to eat low fat dairy products.
39 women ended up being analyzed in the 4 week trial the aim of which was to compare the effects of eating the Paleolithic diet with the Australian Guide to Healthy Eating (AGHE) diet.
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Table Showing Changes In Weight & Fat Measurements Between the Paleo & AGHE Groups
(Table courtesy of School of Medical and Health Sciences, Edith Cowan University, Perth 6027, Australia Edith Cowan – source: http://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/8/5/314/html)
| Mean pre and post intervention anthropometric measurements, showing mean changes within and between groups 1. | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Anthropometric Measure | Paleolithic (22 Women) | AGHE (17 Women) | |||||
| Pre (Mean ± SD) | Post (Mean ± SD) | Change within Group (95% CI) | Pre (Mean ±SD) | Post (Mean ± SD) | Change within Group (95% CI) | Change between Groups Mean Difference (95% CI) | |
| Body weight (kg) | 73.8 ± 13.3 | 70.6 ± 12.7 | −3.20 (−3.8, −2.6) ** | 73.0 ± 12.3 | 71.8 ± 12.3 | −1.21 (−2.0, −0.5) ** | −1.99 (−2.9, −1.0) ** |
| Fat Mass (%) | 34.1 ± 8.9 | 32.6 ± 9.1 | −1.48 (−2.2, −0.8) ** | 31.5 ± 6.2 | 31.3 ± 6.3 | −0.14 (−1.1, 0.9) | −1.34 (−2.5, −0.2) * |
| Fat Mass (kg) | 26.2 ± 10.8 | 24.1 ± 10.4 | −2.14 (−2.7, −1.6) ** | 23.6 ± 7.5 | 23.1 ± 7.7 | −0.46 (−1.4, 0.4) | −1.68 (−2.7, −0.7) ** |
| Fat Free Mass (%) | 65.9 ± 8.9 | 67.0 ± 9.1 | 1.07 (0.3, 1.8) ** | 68.5 ± 6.2 | 68.6 ± 6.3 | 0.12 (−0.9, 1.1) | 0.94 (−0.2, 2.1) |
| Fat Free Mass (kg) | 48.5 ± 5.0 | 47.1 ± 4.7 | −1.38 (−2.1, −0.6) ** | 50.2 ± 7.2 | 49.4 ± 6.5 | −0.79 (−1.5, −0.1) * | −0.59 (−1.6, 0.5) |
| Percent Weight Loss (%) | – | −4.28 ± 1.7 | – | – | −1.66 ± 1.9 | – | −2.63 (−3.8, −1.5) ** |
| Waist Circumference (cm) 2 | 85.9 ± 14.9 | 82.5 ± 14.1 | −3.35 (−4.2, −2.5) ** | 83.0 ± 9.0 | 81.4 ± 8.6 | −1.55 (−2.6, −0.4) * | −1.9 (−3.2, −0.8) ** |
| Systolic BP (mmHg) | 119 ± 14.5 | 115 ± 11.5 | −3.32 (−9.1, 2.5) | 115 ± 11.1 | 114 ± 9.9 | −0.71 (−5.2, 3.8) | −2.61 (−10.1, 4.9) |
| Diastolic BP (mmHg) | 77.8 ± 9.0 | 75.9 ± 10.0 | −1.87 (−6.4, 2.7) | 71.7 ± 6.7 | 73.4 ± 7.2 | 1.65 (−1.0, 4.3) | −3.51 (−9.0, 2.0) |
* p-Value < 0.05;- ** p-Value < 0.01;
- 1 Results calculated using paired t-tests within groups and Independent t-tests between groups;
- 2 Non-normally distributed data calculated using Mann-Whitney U (MWU) test, result shows median ± IQR.
- Note that the 95% CI corresponding to the MWU test is given for the median difference and was determined using the Hodges-Lehmann estimator in SPSS. AGHE: the Australian Guide to Healthy Eating.
Conclusion
Whilst reducing the carbohydrate consumption in the Paleo group of women, it did not impact on fiber intake, however there significant reductions in thiamin, riboflavin and calcium.
Furthermore, the group on the Paleo diet experienced a more favorable effect on body composition, including fat & weight loss, over the period of the trial.
References:
Edith Cowan University – MDPI: http://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/8/5/314/html
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