If you have a body mass index of 30 or higher, you are considered morbidly obese and more likely to develop serious health-related problems, according to MayoClinic.com. To decrease your risk of illness, you need to lose massive amounts of weight. A number of diets have been shown to be effective at helping the morbidly obese lose weight. To lose weight and keep it off, you need to find a plan that works with your lifestyle and includes foods you like to eat.
Meal Replacement Diets
A meal replacement diet can help you lose massive amounts of weight. A 2010 study published in "Nutrition Journal" compared the use of the Medifast meal replacement diet program with a food-based diet program on weight loss in a group of obese subjects. This 40-week randomized controlled clinical trial included 90 obese subjects. Researchers Lisa M. Davis and colleagues at the Medifast Company in Owings Mills, Maryland, conducted the trial. The results showed a greater weight loss in the group following the Medifast meal replacement diet than in the group on the food-based diet, 20 pounds versus 12 pounds, respectively. Most meal replacement diets work by reducing your total caloric intake. The amount depends on the program and can range from 800 to 1,200 calories a day. On a meal replacement program, you eat or drink a specially designed calorie-controlled bar or shake for most meals and eat one regular meal consisting of a lean protein source and a non-starchy vegetable. Consult with your doctor before starting a meal replacement diet.
Low-Carbohydrate Diet
The low-carbohydrate diet has also been shown to help promote massive weight loss. A 2004 study published in "Annals of Internal Medicine" compared the effects of a low-carbohydrate diet versus a low-fat diet in a group of obese subjects. The randomized controlled study, which was conducted by Dr. William S. Yancy and colleagues at the Center for Health Services Research in Primary Care, Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, and Duke University Medical Center, included 120 volunteers with a BMI greater than 30 from the local community. Each diet in the study contained the same amount of calories. The researchers found that the subjects following the low-carbohydrate diet had greater compliance and lost more weight than the subjects following the low-fat diet. A low-carbohydrate diet limits your intake of carbohydrates by 20 to 100 g per day. The diet in this study limited total carbohydrate intake to 20 g per day. A low-carbohydrate diet eliminates most bread, starch and fruit from your diet, and instead allows you to eat meat, poultry, fish, non-starchy vegetables and fats.
Reduced-Calorie Diet
The National Weight Control Registry is a weight-loss study that gathers information from people who have successfully lost weight and kept it off. Average weight loss for study participants ranges from 30 to 300 pounds. A cross-sectional study conducted by S.M. Shick and colleagues from the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, published in 1998 in the "Journal of the American Dietetic Association," set out to describe the dietary patterns of 438 participants in the National Weight Control Registry. Based on completed questionnaires, the researchers determined that the National Weight Control Registry participants followed a reduced-calorie, low-fat diet with an average intake for women of about 1,300 calories per day and an average intake for men of about 1,700-calories per day. When following a reduced-calorie diet, it is important to choose more nutrient-dense foods to keep you feeling full and help ensure you meet your nutrient needs. Nutrient-dense foods include fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean sources of protein and nonfat dairy foods.
References
- MayoClinic.com: Obesity
- "Annals of Internal Medicine"; A Low-Carbohydrate, Ketogenic Diet versus a Low-Fat Diet To Treat Obesity and Hyperlipidemia; W.S. Yancy; 2004
- "Nutrition Journal"; Efficacy of a Meal Replacement Diet Plan Compared to a Food-Based Diet Plan After a Period of Weight Loss and Weight Maintenance: A Randomized Controlled Trial; L.M. Davis; 2010
- PubMed.gov: Persons Successful at Long-Term Weight Loss and Maintenance Continue to Consume a Low-Energy, Low-Fat Diet
- The National Weight Registry: Facts
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