Low-calorie meal replacement shakes may help dieters that cannot lose weight with food. The best are those that provide nutrition and palatability. In clinical environments, a very low-calorie, liquid-meal-only diet is the best, but in nonclinical settings individual dieters' preferences strongly influence which shakes is actually the most successful.
Clinical Options
A study by Columbia University's Dr. Steven Heymsfield, published in 2003 in the "International Journal of Obesity Related Metabolic Disorders," describes successful weight-loss in dieters substituting liquid meal replacements for one or two meals daily. In 2001, "Obesity Research" published a study by W.H. Saris, of the Nutrition and Toxicology Research Institute at Maastricht University, concluding that very low-calorie, liquid-meal-only diets with follow-up programs were better for long-term weight loss.
Over-The-Counter Options
Low calorie diet shakes such as Slim-Fast's Creamy Milk Chocolate Shake and Atkins Advantage Milk Chocolate Delight Shake provide the means to put clinical theory to the test. Slim Fast's shake has 190 calories, 10 g protein, 6 g fat and 18 g sugar. Atkins' low-carbohydrate chocolate shake contains 160 calories, 15 g protein, 10 g fat and only 1 g sugar. Both are fortified with vitamins and minerals.
Which OTC Shake Is Best
Personal tastes powerfully influence dietary success, according to Diabetes Spectrum. Some dieters respond better to low-carbohydrate plans like Atkins. Others do better with Slim-Fast's lower-fat shakes. Atkins' has fewer calories -- but Slim-Fast may taste better. As the saying goes, there is no accounting for personal taste, and sometimes the "best" choice comes down to that.
References
- "International Journal of Obesity Related Metabolic Disorders": Weight Management Using a Meal Replacement Strategy: Meta and Pooling Analysis From Six Studies; SB Heymsfield, CA van Mierlo, HC van der Knaap, M Heo, HI Frier; 27(5):537-49; May 2003
- "Obesity Research": Very-Low-Calorie Diets and Sustained Weight Loss; WH Saris; 9 Suppl 4:295S-301S; November 2001
- Slim Fast: Shakes
- Atkins: Atkins Advantage Milk Chocolate Delight Shake
- Diabetes Spectrum: Accent on Taste: An Applied Approach to Multicultural Competency
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