Evaluation of metabolic changes in clinic attendees with therapeutic carbohydrate restriction

Abstract

Background: Obesity and related metabolic health disorders are major clinical problems that have become increasingly prevalent worldwide. Aim: This before-after study examined the impact of therapeutic carbohydrate restriction (TCR) in managing metabolic health and promoting weight loss in a clinical setting using indirect calorimetry (IC). Setting: Data were collected from medical records obtained from a specialised allied health clinic focusing on metabolic health. Methods: The study analysed retrospective data from 202 overweight or obese participants (77% female, mean age 47.3) who received TCR as part of a behavioural modification programme involving multiple visits where their lifestyle, body composition and respiratory quotient (RQ), a key indicator of fat oxidation were recorded. Results: The study found that TCR improved fat oxidation in 84% of participants at short term visit (around 2 weeks), with an average weight loss of 1.8 kg. At medium term visit (around 12 weeks), 82% of participants maintained an increase in fat oxidation rate, with an average weight loss of 3.9 kg. In addition, among those with recorded body composition and waist circumference, 71% of weight lost was from fat, with an average reduction of 4.9 cm in waist measurements. Conclusion: This real-world study suggests that personalised TCR guided by IC can be an effective strategy for improving metabolic flexibility to help manage excess weight and related co-morbidities in a free-living population. Further research is needed to examine the long-term effects of TCR using this approach. Contribution: The utilisation of IC allows for the examination of individual shifts and improvements in metabolism among patients undergoing TCR.

Keywords

• carbohydrate restriction
• fat oxidation
• indirect calorimetry
• obesity
• weight loss
• metabolic flexibility
• lifestyle