TITLE: Calories vs. Composition: The effect on dietary alterations on anthropometric measures and biochemical parameters in overweight women.LEARNING OUTCOME: To determine if a high-protein, low-carbohydrate, ad-libitum diet is more effective than an energy-restricted diet in promoting weight loss and improving blood lipid and insulin levels.ABSTRACT TEXT: Thirty overweight/obese (BMI: 25-35kg/m2), premenopausal women were matched for Body Mass Index (BMI) and randomly assigned to one of the two diets: (1) High Protein (HP) (30-40% protein, 40-55% fat, 10-20% CHO); (2) Energy Restricted (ER) (1200kcal/d, 20-25% fat, 15-20% protein, 55-60% CHO). Subjects were given weekly menus matching their assigned macronutrient and/or energy requirements to aid in meal planning and dietary compliance. Baseline and post-diet measures included height, weight, body composition, blood lipids (total cholesterol (TC), HDL, LDL< and triglycerides (TG)], and plasma insulin levels. There were no significant differences found among the two groups in any of the above-listed variables prior to the study. Twenty-three women completed the 6-week study (HP=11, ER= 12). Compliance to the diets was adequate as indicated by weekly 24-hour recalls and daily urinary ketone levels. Both groups lost a significant amount of weight and body fat (P<0.05), andweight and body fat losses were not significantly different between the groups. In addition, both groups experienced similar decreases in TG, TC, LDL, HDL, and insulin levels. These results indicate that a HP diet is no more effective than an ER diet in promoting favorable changes in body weight, body composition, blood lipids, and insulin levels. / Department of Family and Consumer Sciences