Cutting fat to lose weight is one of the most popular dietary trends out there, but recently published research brings to doubt the effectiveness of this diet plan not merely for weight loss, but for long-term health outcomes. Specifically, the study that looked at the dietary trends and health outcomes of more than 135,000 adults across the UK found that those who followed a balanced diet that included moderate fat consumption along with moderate carbohydrate consumption were healthiest.

But among those who tried cutting fat, the tendency to eat more carbohydrates as a dietary compensation lead to an increased mortality risk. This means that not only was eating a low-fat diet not considered the most effective option for weight loss, it actually posed major health concerns.

The Long Game

There-in lays the reason as to why low fat diets are being scrutinized. When you cut fat, it is too easy to begin looking for food alternatives that are low in fat, but may not be necessarily healthy. The most common result of cutting fat is an increase in carbohydrate consumption. This is actually the biggest problem with following a low fat diet program for weight loss.  The health concerns don’t come from cutting fat—that is actually a beneficial dietary choice when you want to lose weight and improve your heart health. Instead, the problem comes from the influx of carbohydrates and sugar consumption that typically comes from switching your diet to include highly processed foods that are low in fat.

In the excitement of cutting fat it can be easy to overlook other unhealthy components of the food in question. This is how so many people who follow low-fat diets end up actually doubling their carbohydrate intake, and this can lead to a sharp increase in sugar consumption.

It was this trend that the researchers were tracking on in their latest study. Their findings were essentially that it is smarter to eat some fat and moderate your carbohydrate intake than it is to avoid fats and overeat carbs.

It is findings like this that really drive home the importance of working with a weight loss expert when making decisions about the foods you should be eating for optimal health and well-being. Your weight loss surgeon can help you make smart choices about your food intake. This is especially important after weight loss surgery, when you will have limited space in your diet to ensure that your body is receiving all of the nutrients that your body will need to survive.

Before you make any changes to your weight loss diet plan, make sure that you always check in with your weight loss surgeon and review your body’s needs and dietary preferences. The best diet is always going to be the most balanced diet. Your weight loss surgeon can help you make the healthiest dietary choices as you lose weight after bariatric surgery.