Gransnet forums

Dieting & exercise

Low fat or Low carb - so confusing!

(129 Posts)
granjura Fri 14-Aug-15 11:08:06

BBC news today:

The results published in Cell Metabolism showed that after six days on each diet, those reducing fat intake lost an average 463g of body fat - 80% more than those cutting down on carbs, whose average loss was 245g.

Dr Hall said there was no "metabolic" reason to chose a low-carb diet.

However, studies suggest that in the real world, where diets are less strictly controlled, people may lose more weight by reducing carbohydrate intake.

Dr Hall told the BBC News website: "If it's easier to stick to one diet than another, and to ideally do it permanently, then you should choose that diet.

"But if a low-fat diet is better for you, then you are not going to be at a metabolic disadvantage."

He is now analysing brain scans of the participants to see how the diets affect how rewarding food is.
Diet claims 'debunked'

Doctors Susan Roberts and Sai Das, from Tufts University, said in a commentary that the debate around diets was a source of "intense controversy".

They said the study had "debunked" many of the claims that low-carbohydrate diets were better, but the long-term impact was still unclear.

They added: "The most important message for now is probably that some carbohydrates are all right, especially the healthy whole-grain low-glycaemic-index index variety."

Prof Susan Jebb, from the University of Oxford, said: "The investigators rightly conclude that the best diet for weight loss is the diet you can stick to.

"All diets 'work' if you stick to an eating plan that cuts calories, whether from fat or carbohydrate, but sticking to a diet is easier said than done, especially given the prolonged time it takes to lose weight."

Ana Fri 14-Aug-15 21:54:24

Hmm...it's all very well knowing the most base meaning of a word, but not on to assume everyone else does and to castigate them for it!

jinglbellsfrocks Fri 14-Aug-15 21:51:29

Neither did I! Our granjura has hidden depths. Respect gj! (I think)

Ana Fri 14-Aug-15 21:49:47

I certainly didn't!

jinglbellsfrocks Fri 14-Aug-15 21:48:24

Anyway, like bags says - it's simply a matter of getting the ratio of calories in and calories out right. No other way.

jinglbellsfrocks Fri 14-Aug-15 21:47:08

How did you know that granjura?! shock

granjura Fri 14-Aug-15 21:47:05

perhaps, but if I had said it (being considered a furiner and all, despite almost 40 years in the UK) all hell would have let loose. Such a shame- the discussion is an interesting one, and very important too- as indeed the UK has an increasing problems with obesity and it is indeed costing the NHS, and therefore the whole community, a fortune. Insults, personal or otherwise, have no place in this discussion, and are both rude and unhelpful.

Portion control is not helped either, by restaurants and supermarkets that increase portion size to match the USA- and a food industry that adds transfat and sugar in everything - which some here deny too.

jinglbellsfrocks Fri 14-Aug-15 21:46:37

Here it is:

Porker

Noun: A word for someone who is accused of sexually mollesting animals. For example, someone who raped a dog (got milkboned) would be a porker. Someone who raped a pig (got porked by a pig) would also be a porker. Used most popularly as an insult.
I heard she was so desparate that she got milkboned by her dog! What a porker!
by Kitty January 25, 2005

jinglbellsfrocks Fri 14-Aug-15 21:46:05

O M G !!! I've found the other meaning! And it's really rude!

Shall I put it up. (so to speak)

Ana Fri 14-Aug-15 21:44:50

Even if it is, how has that got anything to do with obesity? And is it likely that Anya would have used the word other than to mean 'fat'? This is getting really silly...

jinglbellsfrocks Fri 14-Aug-15 21:41:44

I have heard a willy called a 'pork sword'. Well, I think I have. I don't think I made it up. confused

jinglbellsfrocks Fri 14-Aug-15 21:40:46

Oh, do tell us what "porker" means gj! Has it got a really rude meaning? (Is it something to do with willies?)

Anya Fri 14-Aug-15 21:36:58

I think there's a subtle difference between calling a person a 'porker' and saying we are a nation of porkers. One is personal but the second is not.

granjura Fri 14-Aug-15 21:31:37

Anya, I agree- you are not one of them.

Bags, that is my point entirely- 'porker' meant 'pig' then, and 'pig' just meant the animal - the slang meaning and register has since changed, especially for 'porker' and it is incredibly rude. As said, as you well know- there is a good reason why it was ----- when it was written, no? Why - it if it wasn't- come on.

thatbags Fri 14-Aug-15 21:24:12

The decade was the eighties and porker meant pig then too. All pigs are fat of course, it's in their genes and evolution and is why they are good swimmers. Also why they taste good.

I like pigs. They are nice animals.

Anya Fri 14-Aug-15 21:21:23

Firstly I was not getting at you Granjura and secondly are you implying that I am one of those who was always getting at you? I hope not, as I don't recall ever directing an unkind post at you - on the contrary.....

granjura Fri 14-Aug-15 21:02:38

and which decade was that? Words do change their significance and register- and this one certainly has. As you well know, of course.

thatbags Fri 14-Aug-15 20:56:25

DD1 was a heathily chubby baby very speedily after a low-end average birth weight. She grew very fast in the first three months. Her nickname was Porker.

We wouldn't be insulting our gorgeous baby.

Just saying.

janeainsworth Fri 14-Aug-15 20:55:03

I don't think I'm Tweedle Dum or Tweedle Dee but will refrain from further comment confused

Ana Fri 14-Aug-15 20:45:08

What on earth are you talking about, granjura? angry

I am not digging. I was actually trying to find out why you find the expression so offensive, thinking perhaps 'porker' meant something different in Switzerland, but you seem determined to find offence in everything I post!

I'll leave you to your self-righteous indignation.

granjura Fri 14-Aug-15 20:34:15

cultural difference- struuuf, I lived in the UK ALL MY ADULT LIFE - in the Midlands!

And you know very well, just as well as I do- and a look at a dozen of on-line dictionaries will confirm- that the secondary and slang meaning of porker is equivalent to the other words used- and extremely rude. YOU know that- you truly do. As said, end of- stop digging- and if you do- dig on your own. I am actually angry now, and it takes an awful lot.

Ana Fri 14-Aug-15 20:27:06

And it wasn't used as a personal remark, just as a comment about the general UK population.

Ana Fri 14-Aug-15 20:21:42

I disagree. Perhaps there's some cultural difference here? Porker doesn't mean anything more than 'fat pig' I suppose - yes it's insulting, but hardly worthy of such indignant offence.

granjura Fri 14-Aug-15 20:15:18

you used 'porker' quite freely- I can't see that any of the others are worse.
Spolling for a fight? Honestly - getting just a tad sick of being got at by the same people again and again.

Porker is extremely rude and unhelpful and in exactly the same rude bracket as the others- no worse, no better. End off.

Ana Fri 14-Aug-15 20:09:39

Did I say that I thought any of those words were 'acceptable' granjura?

You do seem to be spoiling for a fight for no reason that I can see - other than that you must always be 'right' as usual.

granjura Fri 14-Aug-15 20:04:50

Well, before I leave you to it- if you think that either of those words are acceptable, or indeed helpful in this discussion - I rest my case.