American Board of Obesity Medicine (ABOM) Practice Exam

The typical carbohydrate intake range for a low carb diet is often between 50 to 150 grams per day. This classification of carbohydrate intake aligns with many dietary frameworks that emphasize reducing carbohydrates to promote weight loss or manage conditions such as metabolic syndrome or type 2 diabetes.

Within this range, individuals can still include various healthy foods while significantly lowering their carbohydrate consumption compared to standard dietary guidelines, which often recommend higher daily intakes. The strategy behind a low carb diet frequently revolves around reducing insulin levels and altering the metabolic process to favor fat utilization for energy.

Choosing a range above 150 grams per day does not meet the criteria typically associated with low carb diets, which aim for a substantial reduction in carbohydrate intake that maintains ketosis or encourages fat oxidation. Similarly, going lower than 50 grams per day, while effective for some people, may classify as a very low carb diet or ketogenic diet, which is more restrictive than what is generally considered a low carb approach. Thus, the 50 - 150 grams per day range aptly reflects a balanced low carb lifestyle while allowing for sufficient dietary flexibility and nutritional balance.