Founded in 1939, the Rice Clinic Diet is a comprehensive weight loss program that has treated more than 18,000 people from around the world. The program consists of four components: medical care, instruction, support and nutrition. The diet is strict; most patients consume fewer than 1,000 calories per day. The Duke Chronicle reports that many patients choose to return to the clinic periodically "to keep themselves on track."
History
The Rice Diet was founded by Dr. Kempner of Duke University in Durham, North Carolina. Kempner studied the relationship between the diet and health problems such as hypertension, cardiac and kidney disease. He noticed that these diseases were far less prevalent in cultures where rice was a dietary staple. In 1939, he developed a diet of rice, fruits and vitamins as a treatment for his patients. When Kempner's patients reported weight loss, the diet was adapted to treat obesity, as well. Today, the Rice Diet Program and the associated Heart Disease Reversal clinic treat a number of obesity- and diet-related health problems, including diabetes, heart disease, congestive heart failure and renal diseases.
Medical Care
Participants in the Rice Diet program are often referred to as "Ricers." Ricers stay in Durham for treatment for as long as they want, though the average length of stay is about four to eight weeks. Evaluations and laboratory tests help doctors tailor a diet specific to the patient's needs. Patients are under medical supervision and have access to 24-hour on-call care.
Education and Support
Patients in the program attend workshops and lectures to learn about their diseases and life-long health management. Classes cover topics including emotional eating, meal planning and interpreting food labels. Ricers can also take cooking classes. The clinic's group sessions help patients create a support network to provide encouragement and help them maintain their weight loss once they leave the program.
Nutrition
The diet portion of the program consists of two phases. Phase I is very restrictive and low in sodium. Touted as a "detox food plan," it consists mainly of whole grains and fruits. Phase I lasts for about half the duration of a patient's stay in the program, but the clinic recommends that followers use Phase I no more than one day per week outside of the program. In Phase II, patients gradually introduce other foods into the diet, including vegetables, legumes and one weekly serving of fish.
Success and Criticism
The Rice Diet Program's website reports that "men lose an average of 30 pounds and women an average of 19 pounds" during the first month of the program. Long-term weight loss averages 2.5 to 3.5 pounds per week, more if patients exercise. The organization reports that 43 percent of patients maintained their weight loss for six years or more. However, the program is not without criticism. According to an article in the Duke Chronicle, critics of the diet say it is not realistic for the average American's lifestyle of heavy red meat and fast food consumption. Further, the program is not accessible to much of the population due to its price tag and location. As of 2010, the program cost $2,300 for the first week and the fees step down to $800 for the fourth week. Housing costs are separate.
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