Do Low Glycemic Index Diets Aid in Weight Loss?
There are two primary theoretical reasons given why low-GI diets should help reduce weight. The most prominent reason given in books on the low-GI approach involves insulin levels. Basically, these books show that low-GI diets reduce insulin release, and then take almost for granted the idea that reduced insulin levels should aid in weight loss. However, there is little justification for the second part of this argument. Excess weight is known to lead to elevated insulin levels, but there is little meaningful evidence for the reverse: that reducing insulin levels will help remove excess weight. For more information on this very complicated subject, see the article on low-carb diets . Books on the low-GI diet give another reason for using their approach as well: they state that low-GI foods fill you up more quickly than high-GI foods and also keep you feeling full for longer. Unfortunately, as we shall see, there is more evidence against this belief than for it.
