Diets low in carbohydrates have got some good press in recent months, but a study suggests they are no better than conventional calorie-counting regimes.

"While these diets are effective in the short term, weight loss results from reduced calories, not carbohydrate restriction," said Dena Bravata, a lead researcher on the paper which is published in this week's edition of the Journal of the American Medical Association

Low-carb diets no quick fix: study