Diets for the Severely Obese

According to the World Health Organization, there are over 1 billion people around the world who are overweight, and at least 300 million of these people are obese. Severe obesity has been proven to contribute to numerous health problems which include cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes and hypertension. Severe obesity has also been proven to raise the risk of certain cancers significantly. In order to reduce these health risks, a proactive stance must be taken in order to reduce a person's weight. Luckily, there are some diets that are available to help those in need lose weight quickly and effectively.

Atkins Diet

The Atkins diet is based upon the concept of increasing one's protein intake while reducing or completely eliminating the consumption of carbohydrates, according to Atkins.com. The Atkins Diet works very quickly, with people losing up to 14 pounds in two weeks. The Atkins Diet also works in a way that exercise is not necessary while dieting, which makes it perfect for the severely obese and for those who have a hard time keeping a regular exercise routine. Regardless of this fact, the Atkins diet works best and the results last longer when paired with a regular daily exercise routine.

South Beach Diet

The South Beach Diet works well for the severely obese because it is designed specifically for those with large appetites. While using the South Beach Diet, a dieter can lose up to 7 pounds in one week. There are no limits to the amount of food that can be eaten. According to SouthBeachDiet.com, snacking is actually encouraged on the plan because eating more helps boost the metabolism. This diet is designed to teach the dieter to distinguish good carbs from bad carbs and to eliminate all foods that contain high amounts of saturated fat.

Low-Fat Diet

A low-fat diet is a great choice for the severely obese, although it may take time to get used to. In order to succeed with a low-fat diet, you must keep a close eye on the amount of fat you consume in a day. The lower number of fat grams you consume per day, the better results you will see. Foods such as fruits and vegetables, as well as low-fat whole grains and lean meats are included in this choice. Keep in mind, you should always keep your fat intake to at least 20 percent of your daily caloric intake in order to stay healthy.

Low Calorie Diet

A low calorie diet is similar to a low-fat diet in that you must keep a keen eye on nutrition information as you are dieting. Calories are naturally converted to glucose in your body, and when there is too much glucose, it is stored as fat. While the recommended daily caloric intake is between 2,000 and 2,800 a day, the United States Department of Health and Human Services states that an adult should consume no less than 1,500 calories per day in order to stay healthy.

References

Article reviewed by SarahP Last updated on: Dec 5, 2010

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