1. Introduction
Obesity, obesity, obese, lipid abnormalities, LCDs, overweight, Diabetes
OBESITY, OBESITY, OBESE, DIABETES, DISEASE, METABOLIC DISORDERS, ADULT DISEASES
Recently, low-carbohydrate diets (LCDs) have gained worldwide attention. LCDs are potentially effective for Japanese overweight and obese individuals with metabolic disorders. However, few randomized trials of LCDs have focused on the difference between LCDs and VLCDs. We conducted a randomized, prospective study of 42 Japanese, obese adults aged 28–65 years to evaluate the efficacy and safety of LCD and VLCD. To ensure the accuracy of the study, all test meals were provided, and compliance was checked using a smartphone app. Body composition measurements and blood tests were performed before and after the 2-month dietary intervention. The results showed that both methods significantly reduced body weight and fat, and also improved lipid abnormalities and liver function. In the current study, the reductions in weight and fat were comparable. The results of a questionnaire at the end of the study indicated that the LCD was easier to carry out than the VLCD, suggesting that the LCD was sustainable. The present study was unique in that it was a randomized, prospective study of Japanese subjects and that accurate data were obtained by providing meals.Obesity, a global problem, is associated with disease, including adult diseases in productive middle-aged and older adults [Nutrition therapy is indispensable for proper weight management. Recently, low-carbohydrate diets (LCDs) have gained worldwide attention. Specifically, the American Diabetes Association (ADA) consensus report [In an LCD, the amount of carbohydrates ranges from 20 g to 130 g. A review published in 2008 [We hypothesized that a VLCD would be more effective than an LCD in treating obesity in Japanese overweight or obese individuals with metabolic disorders. In this study, to ensure accuracy, subjects were randomly assigned to receive a diet with carbohydrate intake restricted to 120 g/day (LCD) or 50 g/day (VLCD). We provided test meals for all subjects throughout the study period and used a real-time smart phone app (RIZAP ONLINE