People trying to lose weight are often told to cut down on fatty diet. However, a new study reveals that a low-carb diet has more benefits when compared to a low-fat diet.

A latest study reveals that all weight reduction programmes are effective, but consuming a low-carb diet can help a person reduce a few extra pounds when compared to a low-fat diet.

Bradley C. Johnston of the Hospital for Sick Children Research Institute in Toronto conducted a meta-analysis, which involved about 50 clinical trials comprising around 7,300 people. The key objective of the analysis was to understand the effectiveness of different types of diets, which encourages weight loss.

On a random basis, the participants were asked to take on one of the 11 popular weight loss diets that included: Atkins, Weight Watchers, South Beach, Nutrisystem, Ornish and Rosemary Conley, Jenny Craig, Biggest Loser and Volumetrics.

The participants took a specific diet for three months or over and the findings revealed all diets helped the participants in reducing weight; however, with slight differences. The researchers revealed that low-carb and low-fat diet assisted people in reducing more weight than other diets.

People who were consistently engaged in a low-carb diet lost about 19 pounds on an average over a six-month period. The researchers reveal that people who followed a low-fat diet lost 16 pounds on an average and it took around a year to lose weight.

The research suggest that weight loss diet that did not focus on counting carbs and fats also helped people reduce 12.5 pounds on an average over a 12-month period.

The researchers believe that the brand name of a weight loss program is not very important. A person can lose weight by following any diet program, but should consistently follow the diet per the guidelines.

"The weight loss differences between branded diet programs were small with likely little importance to those seeking to lose weight," says Johnstone.

The researchers also stress that it is important for a person to be engaged in physical activity and exercise on a regular basis to shed weight.

The study plays an important role as more people across the U.S. are getting overweight and obese. A recent report suggests that the obesity rate in all the U.S. states has crossed 20 percent. The obesity rate in Mississippi and West Virginia has crossed 35 percent for the first time in history.