It is estimated that most adults in the UK and the US will undertake a diet at some time, but long-term success rates are reported to be poor with half of the weight lost being regained within one year.
The market for commercial diets is estimated to be worth about £11bn (€16bn) by 2007 in the UK, with speciality products, functional foods, and meal replacers taking centre stage.
A new article in the British Medical Journal (Vol. 332, pp. 1309-1314) compared the effects of four commercial diets – Dr. Atkins’ new diet revolution, Slim-Fast plan, Weight Watchers pure points programme, and Rosemary Conley’s eat yourself slim diet and fitness plan.
The researchers, based at five different centres around the UK, recruited 240 mildly obese 40-year old volunteers following one of the four commercial weight loss programmes. A further 60 volunteers with similar characteristics were recruited to eat their normal diet and act as a control for the others.
No standardisation of energy intake was attempted so that the study was a reflection of the volunteers’ interpretation of the diet programmes.
After six months, the results indicated that all four programmes resulted in similar weight loss (5.9 kg), fat loss (4.4 kg), and a reduction in waist circumference (7 cm).
The researchers also measured total cholesterol levels every two months, and found that in all groups except the Atkins group experienced a small but significant drop in total cholesterol levels. After six months, only the Weight Watchers group had sustained reduced cholesterol levels (0.55 millimoles per litre).
“The Atkins diet had no detrimental effects on total cholesterol concentrations or renal functions, although the overall safety of the diet was not tested,” stressed lead researcher Helen Truby from the University of Surrey.
Rachel Cooke from the British Dietetic Association said that the diets worked merely by lowering the calorie intake overall.
However, “from a dietetic perspective emphasis should continue to be on consistent messages [about] healthy lifestyle, which includes healthy eating and healthy activity,” said Clarke.
Both the study authors and Clarke noted that the results of the study highlight the need for realistic weight loss targets. Many dieters have unrealistic targets, said Truby.
Courtesy of nutraingredients.com
Bonnie - as we have said many times before, fad diets come and go. We have never been proponents of them. While sometimes not the most popular stance, we have always stuck to our guns to promote individualized dietary balance based upon human genetics, clinical and research data. Our goal with each of you is not just short-term gain, but long-term dietary and lifestyle improvement.
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