Obese patients require diets to lose weight. The National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases says obese patients have a body mass index, the proportion of weight to height, of 30 and higher. Approximately 34 percent of adults in the United States are obese based on the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey between 2007 and 2008, according to research by Katherine Flegal published in the "Journal of the American Medical Association" in 2010.
Low Calorie Diets
The theory behind low-calorie diets is that weight loss can be induced by your body expending more energy through physical activity and metabolism than the amount of energy you take in from diet, resulting in negative energy balance. Catherine Loria, a nutritional epidemiologist with the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute, stated in Time Magazine that you need to "eat fewer calories than you expend." Calories are a unit of measurement of energy produced by food. Fat produces approximately 9 calories per gram of food, alcohol produces 7 calories per gram and carbohydrates and proteins produce 4 calories per gram. The results from low-calorie diets are often less than expected. Research by S.B. Heymsfield published in the "American Journal of Clinical Nutrition" in 2007 discovered that the small maximal weight loss observed with low-calorie diets may be attributed to difficulties with patient adherence to the program or problems with your body adapting to metabolic changes induced by negative energy balance.
Low Carbohydrate, High Protein Diets
The low carbohydrate, high protein diet is based on the theory to limit foods containing starches and sugars, substances that can increase body fat, in hopes to lose weight, according to the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine. Research by M. Hession published in "Obesity Reviews" in 2009 compared clinical studies on low carbohydrate, high protein diets and low fat, high carbohydrate diets for obesity and discovered that low carbohydrate, high protein diets are more effective at 6 months, and are as effective, if not more effective in reducing weight for up to one year. Furthermore, the research observed there is a higher attrition rate among patients in the low fat group, suggesting patient preference for low carbohydrate, high protein diet. However, low carbohydrate, high protein diets restrict the intake of many nutritious foods such as fruits, vegetables, beans, rice, cereals and other grains, and increase foods with high protein and saturated fat. Research by T.C. Crowe published in "Obesity Reviews" in 2005" questions the long-term safety and health effects from low carbohydrate diets.
Mediterranean Diet
The Mediterranean diet can be effective in helping obese patients prevent weight regain, according to a report in Science Daily. The Mediterranean diet is primarily based on plant foods involving fresh fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds, legumes, whole grains and olive oil, with a few servings of fish per week. Research by Jesus Vioque published in "Obesity" in 2008 discovered in a 10-year epidemiological study that high intake of fruits and vegetables in Mediterranean populations may reduce long-term risk of subsequent weight gain and obesity among adults.
References
- National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases: Prescription Medications for the Treatment of Obesity
- "JAMA"; Prevalence and Trends in Obesity among Us Adults, 1999-2008; Flegal, K.M.; Jan 20 2010
- Time: What's the Best Diet? Eating Less Food
- The Regents of the University of California: Calories Count
- "American Journal of Clinical Nutrition"; Why Do Obese Patients Not Lose More Weight When Treated with Low-Calorie Diets? A Mechanistic Perspective; Heymsfield, S.B.; Feb 2007
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