[E6300]

Well, fat certainly is worse than carbs, as far as weight loss is concerned. Fat contains twice the calories per gram compared to carbohydrates or protein, that's why things like cheese and oil are a big no-no if you're trying to lose weight. Butter is alright as long as you don't take a big ol' chomp out of a stick.

[khuey]

That diets like paleo and keto work is pretty strong counter evidence to this position.

[specialist]

Responding to E6300:

You are mostly correct, in terms of effectiveness.

Also good are exercise (building lean muscle mass), reducing carbs (a la keto, paleo), and intermittent fasting (keto).

There are other health benefits to cutting carbs, especially HFCS: reducing obesity, heart disease, diabetes.

Just think of the strategies as complimentary. And do what works for your body (eg consuming too much potassium can worsen some heart conditions).

[E6300]

The only diet that works is caloric restriction. You can follow any fad diet you want, but if you don't expend more calories than you ingest you're not going to lose weight. Replace all the carbs in your equilibrium diet with the same amount of fat per mass and you're going to start gaining weight. It's as simple as that.

[jrimbault]

You're wrong, but to illustrate why: when people talk about cheese, often you'll think of France -> https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/French_paradox

It's not strictly speaking a rebuttal, but it illustrates a point quite clearly, fat is not the culprit.

[E6300]

I'm talking about weight loss, not overall health.

[otabdeveloper1]

Gasoline is more caloric than fat, but subsisting on a diet of gas won't make you obese, quite the opposite.

[qbrass]

Which is why you should subsist on a diet of biodiesel.

[SmellyGeekBoy]

Anecdotal I know, but I have plenty of friends who have lost weight on a high-fat, low-carb diet.