[Treatment of obesity with low-carbohydrate diets (author's transl)].

Therapeutic problems with low-carbohydrate diets in the weight reduction of the obese are summarized presenting results of the literature and results of the own group. The small number of patients and the short periods of treatment do account to the controverse results observed by other authors with low-carbohydrate diets. Also studies performed under ambulant conditions should be interpreted carefully. The therapeutic effect of the low-carbohydrate formula diet tested, satisfied even in comparison with a diet discribed in other studies. Concentrations of plasma triglycerides and cholesterol elevated in part turned to normal during therapy. There were no side effects of the gastro-intestinal tract. Hypocaloric diets with reduction of carbohydrates are discussed to have a good therapeutic effect for the following reasons: High value of satiety and increase of the metabolic rate.