In order to lose weight, you need to eat fewer calories than the calories you expend through activity. But for some, it's not that simple. Some dieters can cut calories and add more exercise without seeing results. Using a weight-loss method that has been proven successful will increase a dieter's chance of achieving his weight-loss goals.
Nutrition Counseling
Most people know how you are supposed to lose weight--eat less and exercise more--but are still unable to stick to a weight-loss plan and drop the pounds. Guidance from a professional throughout the process helps dieters stay on track, ensures adequate nutrients, the safety of the diet, and improves weight loss results.
According to a review article published in the "Journal of General Internal Medicine," dieters who participated in intensive behavior therapy--defined as a minimum of two sessions a month for the first three months with a registered dietitian--lost more weight than those who had less frequent sessions.
There seems to be an additional benefit of participating in group weight-loss classes or counseling. A study published in the journal "Ethnicity and Health" compared weight-loss results from individual counseling sessions with results from group counseling sessions. Participants in the group counseling sessions lost more weight and also reported feeling more in control of their eating behaviors.
Meal Replacements
Dieters often find it challenging to plan meals and snacks that stay within their calorie range for weight loss. Using meal replacements such as calorie-controlled vitamin- and mineral-fortified bars, shakes, or other supplements in place of a meal (or meals), can make it easier to maintain an appropriate calorie level.
Multiple research studies found diets with meal replacements more effective for weight loss than a calorie-restricted diet that uses regular food. For example, a study published in the "American Journal of Clinical Nutrition" reports that overweight and obese men and women who were dissatisfied with their weight loss on a calorie-restricted diet, lost significantly more weight on meal replacement diets.
Bariatric Surgery
For people who are morbidly obese (BMI greater than 40), typical dieting methods only result in about 10 percent weight loss. Surgical options--termed bariatric surgery--like gastric bypass or lap-banding surgeries that reduce the size of the stomach are often preferred because they produce dramatic weight loss and consequent improved health. According to bariatric researchers Welbourn and Pournaras, there is no more effective treatment for obesity than bariatric surgery.
More invasive than typical methods, bariatric surgery is often seen as a last resort weight-loss method, but it is becoming more common. Weight-loss surgery is not for those with a small amount of weight to lose; patients should be very overweight or suffer from health issues because of their weight before undergoing weight loss surgery.
Dieters who are considering bariatric surgery must also weigh their risk of developing complications after surgery as well as their ability to improve their lifestyles. After surgery, following a carefully controlled diet and taking multivitamins and mineral supplements is necessary.
Follow up with a physician and often a registered dietitian is critical for success. Even after losing weight, individuals who have undergone bariatric surgery will need to continue to follow a healthy eating plan and obtain regular exercise to avoid regaining weight. Additionally, rapid weight gain or loss for any reason can cause skin to sag.
References
- "American Journal of Clinical Nutrition"; Metabolic and Weight-Loss Effects of a Long-Term Dietary Intervention in Obese Patients; Ditschuneit HH, Flechter-Mors M, Johnson TD, Adler G; February 1999
- "Journal of General Internal Medicine"; Treatment of Obesity in Primary Care Practice in the United States: A Systematic Review; A.G. Tsai AG, T.A. Wadden; September 2009
- "Ethnicity and Health"; Assessment of Two Culturally Competent Diabetes Education Methods: Individual vs. Individual Plus Group Dducation in Canadian Portuguese Adults With Type 2 Diabetes; E. Gucciardi, M. DeMelo, R. Lee, S. Grace; April 2007
- "Proceedings of the Nutrition Society"; Bariatric Surgery: A Cost-Effective Intervention for Morbid Obesity; Functional and Nutritional Outcomes; R. Welbourn, D. Pournaras; May 2010
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