Is there a test that tells me whether low-carb is right for me?

Benjamin T. BikmanPhD · Professor of Cell Biology and Physiology, Brigham Young University; director of the Laboratory of Obesity and Metabolism

Yes, measure your insulin

What it rests onHis model makes insulin the variable that matters, so measuring it is the diagnostic that follows. He also recommends the triglyceride-to-HDL ratio off an ordinary lipid panel, with bands at 2, 3 and roughly 3.5, as a marker of insulin resistance almost everyone already has the numbers for.

Christopher D. GardnerPhD · nutrition scientist, Stanford Prevention Research Center

No, and the specific test you are thinking of was tested and failed

What it rests onDIETFITS randomised 609 adults for 12 months with both arms built to be good versions of themselves. Weight change was 5.3 kg on healthy low-fat and 6.0 kg on healthy low-carbohydrate, not significantly different. The trial's stated purpose was to test these two predictors: genotype pattern P = .20, baseline insulin secretion measured as INS-30 P = .47. NCT01826591.