The truth about carbohydrates: An interview with researcher Jean-Pierre Flatt, Ph.D.

Jean-Pierre Flatt, Ph.D. is a leading researcher in field of energy metabolism and body weight regulation. His group was one of the first to discover than despite being a common belief, carbohydrates are not easily converted to fat in humans. In 1995 he received the McCollum Award from the American Society of Clinical Nutrition for his work on weight maintenance.

Part of the interview.

Hobbs: Are carbohydrates important in weight control?

Flatt: Yes. Carbohydrates determine the amount of fat that is burned. The more carbohydrates you eat, the less fat you burn. The less carbohydrates you eat, the more fat you burn.

Hobbs: How much fat is burned on a low-carbohydrate diet?

Flatt: A person can burn 150 to 250 grams of fat per day if carbohydrate intake is restricted to 50 grams or less. That is roughly one-third to one-half a pound of fat per day.

More on this very interesting interview here.

Eddie