Why Top Doctors Are Steering Patients Away From Low-Carb Diets

Many doctors are hesitant to recommend low-carb diets to their patients, despite research showing these eating plans can lead to significant weight loss. Instead, medical professionals are encouraging people to focus on the types of carbohydrates they eat rather than drastically cutting them out entirely.

"I have never recommended a low-carb diet to a patient, and I don't plan to," said Dr. Nate Wood, an internal medicine and obesity physician and the director of the culinary medicine program at the Yale School of Medicine.

Do Low-Carb Diets Actually Work for Weight Loss?

The evidence for low-carb diets' effectiveness is actually quite strong. These eating approaches, which limit carbohydrate-rich foods like fruits, starchy vegetables, and grains while prioritizing protein and fat sources like meat, eggs, and cottage cheese, have been studied for decades.

A 2024 review comparing different diet approaches found compelling results. Researchers looked at how well low-carbohydrate, low-fat, and Mediterranean diets helped overweight and obese adults lose weight over periods ranging from two to 18 months. People following low-carbohydrate diets lost an average of nearly six pounds more than those on Mediterranean diets and about 1.5 pounds more than those on low-fat diets.

What Are the Main Concerns About Low-Carb Diets?

Despite the weight loss benefits, nutrition experts point to several downsides that come with restriction-based eating plans. As with many diets that eliminate entire food groups, low-carbohydrate approaches can present challenges for long-term health and sustainability.

The main issues doctors identify with low-carb diets include:

• Nutritional Restrictions: Eliminating entire food groups like fruits and whole grains can lead to missing out on important vitamins, minerals, and fiber that support overall health
• Sustainability Concerns: Highly restrictive eating patterns can be difficult to maintain long-term, potentially leading to yo-yo dieting cycles
• Quality Over Quantity: Focusing solely on carb numbers ignores the significant nutritional differences between refined sugars and nutrient-dense whole grains or fruits

What Do Doctors Recommend Instead?

Rather than counting carbohydrates, medical professionals suggest paying attention to carbohydrate quality. This approach allows people to continue eating nutrient-dense foods like fruits, vegetables, and whole grains while avoiding processed and refined carbohydrates that can negatively impact blood sugar and weight management.

The low-carb diet trend isn't new - it has roots dating back to obesity studies from the early 1950s and gained massive popularity after Dr. Robert Atkins published his "Diet Revolution" book in 1972. However, the medical community's understanding of nutrition has evolved significantly since then.

For people concerned about how carbohydrates affect their weight, diabetes risk, or overall health, the focus should be on choosing high-quality, minimally processed carbohydrate sources rather than eliminating this important macronutrient group entirely. This balanced approach may provide sustainable results without the potential downsides of extreme dietary restriction.