Many studies show that when put on a lower calorie diet, animals live longer and stay healthier. But whether or not that is also true for humans was an open question. Now there may be a preliminary answer, and it is yes.
In a study of 218 people aged 21 to 50 and published in Lancet Diabetes Endocrinology, participants were randomly assigned to eat either their regular diet or to reduce their calorie intake by 25%. All were in the upper half of the normal weight range or the lower half of the overweight range.
After two years, no one had been able to reduce their calorie intake by 25% but those in the reduced calorie group had cut their daily intake by an average of 12% - about 300 calories per day. On average, the 143 adults in the calorie restriction group maintained nearly 12% calorie restriction over the entire two-year period. This group also achieved an average reduction of 10% in body weight (about 16 pounds), mostly body fat. The 75 adults in the control group had stable calorie intake and weight during the study.
Compared to the control group, calorie restriction substantially reduced waist measurements and blood pressure. Lab tests showed reduced LDL cholesterol and triglycerides. In addition, measures of inflammation, insulin resistance, glucose control, and metabolic syndrome greatly improved.
The findings suggest that even modest calorie restriction may reduce the risk of heart disease and diabetes even in healthy adults who are not obese. “People can do this fairly easily by simply watching their little indiscretions here and there, or maybe reducing the amount of them, like not snacking after dinner,” said lead researcher Dr. William E. Kraus of Duke University.
The bottom line is that a small reduction in daily calorie intake can improve your health outcomes, even if you are not overweight to begin with.
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