The obesity epidemic affects more than 30 percent of men and women in the United States, according to the 2007 - 2008 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey published in 2010 in the "Journal of the American Medical Association." Obesity significantly increases your chances of developing a chronic illness and early death. Following a diet that promotes dramatic weight loss can improve your health.
Reduced Calorie Diet
To lose weight you need to eat less. Reducing your calorie intake can help you dramatically lose weight. Men and women can safely lose weight following a reduced-calorie diet consisting of 1,200 to 1,600 calories a day. Talk to your doctor to determine how many calories you should eat to lose weight. When following a reduced-calorie diet, it is important to try to include a variety of healthy foods from each of the food groups to make sure you meet all your nutrient needs. The U.S. Department of Agriculture's MyPyramid Plan can provide you with a personalized calorie-controlled meal plan that includes serving suggestions from each food group. The MyPyramid website also includes a food diary called the MyPyramid Tracker, which calculates your nutrient intake and assesses the nutritional quality of your diet.
Meal Replacement Diet
Meal replacement diets can also help promote dramatic weight loss. On a meal replacement diet you replace one or two regular meals with a calorie-controlled shake or meal bar and eat one healthy regular meal. A 2004 study conducted by Manny Noakes and colleagues at the Commonwealth Scientific Industrial Organization in Australia and published in "The Journal of Nutrition" compared the effectiveness of a meal replacement diet and a reduced-calorie diet in 66 obese individuals in a randomized parallel design study. The study participants were divided into two groups, a meal replacement group or a control group. The individuals in the meal replacement group were provided with Slim-Fast food products to replace two meals and ate a low-fat dinner meal. The control group were provided with food vouchers and information about a low-fat, reduced-calorie diet. Over the three-month study period, the individuals following the meal replacement diet averaged a 13-lb. weight loss, while the individuals following the low-fat, low-calorie diet lost an average of 14.5 lbs. The researchers concluded that meal replacement diets are as effective in promoting weight loss as a reduced-calorie diet.
Liquid Diet
A liquid diet is a very low-calorie diet that can also promote dramatic weight loss. It is important to consult with your doctor before starting a low-calorie liquid diet. You should also be closely monitored throughout the duration of the diet. Optifast is an example of a low-calorie liquid diet. On the Optifast plan, all meals are replaced with one of the Optifast products, which include shakes, soups and meal bars. The Optifast food products contain 190 to 200 calories and 14 g of protein. You can lose 3 to 5 lbs. a week following the Optifast diet, according to the website. In addition to the weight-loss products, Optifast also provides an initial medical evaluation and ongoing follow-up, along with nutritional counseling.
References
- MayoClinic.com: Obesity: Treatment and Drugs
- "Journal of the American Medical Association"; Prevalence and Trends in Obesity Among US Adults, 1999-2008; K. Flegal; 2010
- Harvard School of Public Health: How to Get to Your Healthy Weight
- "The Journal of Nutrition"; Meal Replacements Are as Effective as Structured Weight-Loss Diets for Treating Obesity in Adults with Features of Metabolic Syndrome; M. Noakes et al.; 2004
- MyPyramid.gov: MyPyramid Plan
- Optifast: Proven Benefits
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