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by Yunsheng Ma, et al.
This study compares the quality of eight weight-loss plans, using the dietary guidelines of the Alternate Healthy Eating Index (AHEI), to determine which is best able to prevent cardiovascular disease. The… New Glucose Revolution, Atkins, South Beach phases two and three, Ornish and Zone diets are chosen for inclusion by their popularity as determined by The New York Times Bestseller list. Weight Watchers is included because it's the largest commercial weight-loss plan, and the USDA 2005 Food Guide Pyramid is included since it is the current government-issued guideline. In analysis, the vegetarian Ornish diet comes in first, followed by Weight Watchers High Carbohydrate and The New Glucose Revolution. Atkins finishes in last place and the 2005 Food Guide Pyramid ends up somewhere in the middle. Both Atkins and the Food Pyramid contain levels of sodium above the American Heart Association's recommended daily limit.
by Iris Shai, et al.
A two-year trial conducted in an Israeli workplace assigns 322 moderately obese subjects to a low-carb, Mediterranean or low-fat diet. The Mediterranean and low-fat groups are limited to 1,500 to 1,800… calories per day whereas the low-carbohydrate group can consume unlimited calories. Dieticians meet with each group throughout the study via both face-to-face and telephone interaction. At the end of two years, weight loss for those following low-carb and Mediterranean diets is greater than weight loss for those in following the low-fat plan. An interesting finding of note is that women lost the most weight on the Mediterranean diet, whereas men lost the most on the low-carb diet.
by Editors of Consumer Reports
Eight well-known weight-loss programs and seven diet books are evaluated and rated by Consumer Reports. Each gets an overall score based on adherence to nutritional guidelines set down by the 2005 U.S.… Dietary Guidelines for Americans and the results of published randomized clinical studies. At least 40 participants test each diet; the results are noted at three months, six months and a year. Nutritional analysis was done on a week's worth of menus for each program, and higher scores were assigned to those diets more closely conforming to the standard U.S. nutritional guidelines. Since the standard encourages 45 percent to 65 percent of one's caloric intake to come from carbohydrates, low-carb diets like Atkins are penalized from the very beginning.
by Christopher D. Gardner, et al.
In this clinical study, 311 overweight/obese premenopausal women are randomly assigned to follow the Atkins, Zone, LEARN or Ornish diets, and the degree of weight loss was compared at 12 months. Weight loss… was greater for women in the Atkins diet group compared with the other diet groups. Weight loss was not statistically different among the Zone, LEARN and Ornish groups. Secondary outcomes, like lipid profiles, triglycerides and blood pressure for Atkins were comparable to or more favorable than the other diet groups. While questions remain about long-term effects and mechanisms, a low-carbohydrate, high-protein, high-fat diet may be considered a feasible alternative recommendation for weight loss, according to the results here.
by Michael L. Dansinger, et al.
This study randomly assigns 160 overweight individuals to follow one of four programs: the Atkins, Dean Ornish, Weight Watchers or Zone diets. At the one-year mark, 25 percent of participants who stuck to… their diet lost more than 5 percent of their body weight, regardless of which plan they followed. There is no correspondence between the weight a person loses and the plan he or she is on. What does make a difference across the board is whether or not an individual sticks to their plan. Those on Weight Watchers and the Zone plans were likelier to stick with their plan long term. It seems that ultimately it's sticking to a diet, rather than the type of plan, that matters most.
by Laura P. Svetkey, et al.
This 36-month trial follows 1,032 obese or overweight adults as they lose weight for six months and then attempt to keep that weight off. At the end of the trial, 71 percent of subjects are still below… their start weight, although all have regained some of the weight they lost. In the maintenance phase of the trial, participants self-monitor, receive personal-contact intervention, or use computer-based tools to sustain weight loss. Personal intervention (consisting of monthly check-ins by phone) is found to be the most effective tool for weight-loss maintenance. There is little difference between the outcomes of the self-directed and technology-based groups.
by Christine M. Hunter, et al.
This study looks at how Internet weight-loss tools impact 446 healthy, overweight adults over the course of six months. What makes this study different from those similarly titled is that the authors… recruited subjects from a U.S. Air Force base and sought to include groups that are normally under-represented in weight-management trials: healthy individuals, men, minorities, younger adults and persons who are only moderately overweight. (Apparently the norm for similar weight-loss studies has been predominantly obese women, over forty, with some related health condition such as diabetes.) At six months, those receiving guidance over the Internet lost an average of 1.3 kg (2.9 pounds), while those receiving usual care gained an average of 0.6 kg (1.3 pounds). Internet tools used included food and exercise diaries, weekly counselor feedback, online weight-loss lessons, as well as two motivational phone calls during the six months. Participants found the food and exercise diaries and phone calls to be the most helpful components.
by Helen Truby, et al.
The BBC "diet trials" is a medical study (also chronicled as reality TV) following the ups and downs of 293 dieters on Weight Watchers, Atkins, Slim-Fast, The Rosemary Conley Plan (a U.K.-based diet and… exercise program) and a self-regulated control group. BBC sponsors the study and funds the dieters for six months, after which they are left to their own devices. This journal publication details the findings of the study, which are very similar to those of the Jan. 2005 JAMA study (above). At six months, dieters who stick to their plan lose about the same amount of weight, regardless of the plan they follow. Beyond the study, dieters reporting continued success are those on the Weight Watchers and Rosemary Conley plans, suggesting that these diets are easier to stick to long-term than Slim-Fast and Atkins.
by Maureen Callahan
Editors at Health magazine review more than 40 diets and weight-loss programs. Each gets a lengthy overview and an analysis by a dietician, doctor or fitness professional. You can click on a maximum of… three diets at once and see them compared side by side. While there are no ratings or clinical tests conducted, the write-ups are detailed enough to help you make a decision. Weight Watchers is said to be the best, most-proven plan. Most other plans get a mixed but balanced review.
by Editors of DietTV.com
A social networking site in the vein of eDiets.com, but with no fees for any of the services, DietTV.com has, by far, the most comprehensive listing of diets (nearly 80). Each diet summary shows a list of… loves and hates, what makes the diet different, nutrition ratings of what you can/can't eat divided into five subcategories and a section on community rating divided into seven subcategories. Despite all the information provided, neither the diets nor their subcategories are given numerical rankings, so it's hard to tell at a glance what diet might be better than any other. There is a link from each diet review to join up with that diet, track weight loss and exercise goals and join a support group.
by Beth Casey Gold, et al.
This study compares the effectiveness of a structured behavioral weight-loss website (VTrim) vs. a commercial weight-loss website (eDiets.com) in 124 overweight people. Analyses are performed for the 88… subjects who have completed follow-up data. VTrim participants have access to a therapist-led structured behavioral weight-loss program delivered online, while eDiets.com subjects have access to a self-help commercial online weight-loss program. The analysis shows that the VTrim group lost significantly more weight than the eDiets.com group at six months and maintained a greater loss at 12 months. One of the study's authors, Susan Burke, was an employee of eDiets.com during the study.
by Rena R. Wing, et al.
This study takes 314 dieters who have lost more than 10 percent of their body weight in the past two years and gives them the maintenance skills to try to keep the weight off. Participants are given the… same information over the course of the 18 months, but via three different channels: one group receives face-to-face intervention, another has Internet-based support and the third is a control group receiving only quarterly newsletters. All groups gained weight at the end of the 18-month study, but the face-to-face group fared the best. Authors point to weighing yourself regularly as a critical component of maintaining weight loss.
by Deborah F. Tate, et al.
This study documents 192 adults randomly assigned to one of three Internet-based treatment groups: no counseling, computer-automated feedback or personal e-mail counseling. All participants received one… weight-loss group session, coupons for meal replacements and access to an interactive website. The personal e-mail counseling group received weekly feedback from a counselor, and the computer-automated feedback group received automated, tailored messages. At three months, participants in both the electronic feedback and e-mail counseling groups had significantly greater weight losses compared with the no counseling group, with those receiving personal contact losing slightly more weight. At six months, weight losses were significantly greater in the e-mail counseling group than in the other two groups.
by Joaqu’n P?rez-Guisado, et al.
This 12-week study follows 31 obese subjects on an unlimited calorie Spanish Ketogenic Mediterranean Diet (SKMD), a protein diet rich in olive oil, salad, fish and red wine. The SKMD differs from the… regular Mediterranean diet in that it prescribes the consumption of these four staples daily and steers clear of grains, nuts and dairy. At the end of 12 weeks, the SKMD produced a significant reduction in body weight, body mass index, blood pressure and cholesterol. Researchers conclude that the diet plan is a safe and effective way to lose weight, but point out that future research should compare the diet to other ketogenic diets and follow subjects over a longer period of time.
by Editors of the Health and Nutrition Letter
In this article, the South Beach Diet gets taken to task for faulty science, inconsistencies and nutritional inaccuracies. Tufts editors say that unless you have diabetes, the rise and fall of blood sugar… that the South Beach Diet promises to stabilize is not actually a problem. They also explain the 8- to 13- pound weight loss in the first week of the diet as water loss. Water molecules attach themselves to carbohydrates, so when you eat zero carbs for a week, stored carbs must come out to fuel your body and those carbs release their water molecules. There are apparently some flat-out contradictions within the book itself; an example is a chocolate/banana recipe at the back of the book for use during phase two of the diet, when bananas are not permitted. Another is that watermelon is full of sugar and cantaloupe is not, when both really contain the same sugar content. The author admits that you will lose weight following this diet, which is not an unhealthy one, but the weight lost on South Beach is due to the diet's low caloric intake, not its chemistry.
by Editors of HealthyWeightForum.org
This site has lots of helpful information about how to choose the right diet, and it reviews most of the familiar book-based diets including Atkins, Zone and South Beach as well as the newer Mediterranean… iet, low-glycemic diet and the Abs Diet. In their "Top Diets" round-up, Burn the Fat, Feed the Muscles comes in first followed closely by the Abs Diet and a low-glycemic diet. Somewhat suspect is the fact that Burn the Fat, Feed the Muscles is the only diet that's not reviewed on the website. Clicking on the Burn the Fat link takes you to a commercial site with lots of annoying pop-ups and a big photo of a very ripped-looking male body builder.
by Amy Paturel and editors of Parents.com
Editors at Parents.com try five newer diet plans. The diets are the Abs Diet, The Busy Person's Guide to Permanent Weight Loss, The Bonus Years Diet, The Fiber 35 Diet, and The F.A.S.T (Families Always… Succeed Together) Diet. While the diets are not compared, potential pitfalls of each plan are called out, along with positive points. The diets address particular niche requirements, like a diet that families can do together (F.A.S.T) and a diet for people who are always eating out (The Busy Persons Guide to Permanent Weight Loss).
by Gina Kolata
This article talks about a then-new study that found little evidence that commercial weight-loss programs are effective in aiding participants in dropping excess weight. Virtually no rigorous studies of the… popular programs have been carried out, and the Federal Trade Commission cannot force any of the diet companies to perform studies. It is noted that in the handful of studies that have been performed that have met the investigators' criteria, hardly any of the companies report data for everyone who enrolls in the programs; they only include people who have completed the programs, inflating the overall results, since participants wouldn't drop out if their weight loss was succeeding as envisioned. The investigators' conclusions are that licensed doctors could do as well as these programs in helping people shed the excess weight.
by Dietitians of Canada
This journal position paper, reproduced from the Canadian Journal of Dietetic Practice and Research and the Journal of the American Dietetic Association, reports that vegetarian diets can be healthy.… According to the paper, even vegan diets can meet current recommendations for all the body's nutritional needs. There are also plenty of health benefits to eating a vegetarian diet if one is rigorous about meal planning and nutrition. Vegetarians as a population are reported to have healthier body weight than non-vegetarians and are at a lower risk for such health problems as heart disease, high cholesterol and even cancer. The authors of the joint position statement have also developed a Vegetarian Food Guide modeled after Canada's Food Guide to Healthy Eating and the United States Department of Agriculture's Food Guide Pyramid.
by Editors of WebMD.com
Fifty-three popular diets, including Dr. Phil's Ultimate Weight Solution, the South Beach Diet and the Slim-Fast Plan, are reviewed here, starting with what the diet entails and how it works, and ending… with a section entitled "What The Experts Say." Experts sing the praises of Weight Watchers, Volumetrics and Dean Ornish's vegetarian low-fat diet. While articles on the site are current, we were unable to find diet reviews for newer diets like the Abs Diet and the Mediterranean diet.
by Meeting Report of the American Heart Association
According to researchers who conducted clinical trials at the American Heart Association, substituting protein, half from plant-based sources or monounsaturated fats for 10 percent of dietary carbs, can… reduce the chances for heart disease. Researchers studied 164 adults with higher-than-normal blood pressures. Participants were on one of three diets: carb-rich DASH (Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension), which emphasizes fruit, veggies and low-fat dairy; a diet that shifted 10 percent of its calories to protein compared to DASH; and a diet that shifted 10 percent of its calories to unsaturated fat. All diets lowered blood pressure, but the higher protein diet did so at the expense of also lowering good HDL cholesterol. The increased fat diet nearly matched the protein diet in further blood pressure reductions but raised HDL. However, the protein diet had the effect of lowering triglycerides (a fat in the blood) by twice as much as the monounsaturated fat diet.
by Megan O. Steintrager, Heather Tyree
This article compares the quality of prepared diet food among five popular weight-loss programs: eDiets, the Zone, Jenny Craig, NutriSystem and PureFoods. A week's worth of full meal plans was tested. Vast… differences are noted in quality from company to company. Rankings reflect flavor, nutrition, convenience, portion size, variety and similarity to real food, along with customer service. eDiets ranks the highest, with the second most expensive plan, the Zone, comes in second. Jenny Craig, which is consistently derided for its expensive and required prepared foods, was actually the next-to-cheapest plan, with the next-to-worst rated food.
by Jaime Holguin
This Associated Press article, reprinted on CBS.com, describes the results of a Weight Watchers study that found half of all dieters who reached their goal weight through Weight Watchers were still at least… 5 percent lighter after five years. It doesn't sound like much of an achievement, but since nearly all dieters, whatever their plan, eventually return to their old weight, maintaining a 5 percent loss over a significant period of time is a major success. This study is the most rigorous investigation of a commercial weight-loss program, before or since. Studies conducted on obese people enrolled in hospital-based experiments report that the subjects regained one-third to one-half of the weight they lost within a year, and almost all of it back within five years. This study involved 870 lifetime members of Weight Watchers. (Lifetime members are those who've reached their goal weight and maintain it for six weeks.)
by Editors of Freedieting.com
FreeDieting.com covers more than 40 popular diets, including two weight-loss plans for kids, and gives each a score: diets rated more than three stars are worth a look, but those with three stars and below… are apparently questionable. The site's top pick is the Glycemic Impact diet, which editors say combines the best elements of other diets. DietWatch is ranked second because it is nutritionally sound, completely online and customizable. Other top-ranked picks (in order of ranking) include Diet.com, the Sonoma Diet, Burn the Fat and Weight Watchers. NutriSystem, based on eating low glycemic-index foods, is their meal replacement favorite, though Medifast is reviewed favorably for those with more than 75 pounds to lose, and Trim Kids is recommended for children and teens. They have less favorable impressions of Jenny Craig, LA Weight Loss and Herbalife because of costs and complexity. EDiets, formerly much higher rated, is docked because of a high number of complaints about their cancellation policy.
by Contributors to Epinions.com
Epinions.com's material on diet programs consists of very minimal summaries of the actual diet programs and anecdotal ratings from individual users. Although these are not as credible as head-to-head… comparisons, they do provide individual experiences that may be helpful to read. Unfortunately, user rankings do not take into account the number of reviews posted, and most of the diets listed here do not have a large enough range of reviews for readers to be able to draw some kind of broad conclusion.
by Internal Revenue Service
This news release about Revenue Ruling 2002-19 states that some weight-loss programs may be deductible on your taxes as a medical deduction. The deduction is subject to a number of limitations and does not… apply to all programs or cover food cost. Someone diagnosed by his or her doctor as obese or as suffering from hypertension, for example, would quality. The ruling distinguishes those cases from situations in which people might wish to participate to improve their general health or appearance.
by Contributors to TopDiets.com
This is a dieters' bulletin board with nearly every weight loss option listed, including diets not seen elsewhere like Slim Mints and the Subway diet. Along with a short description of the plan/procedure… and a star rating, actual users and presumably participants comment on individual plans and vote. In theory, that sounds great, except that some suspiciously worded postings sound a bit too much like spam testimonials to pass the credibility test and there is no comparison between plans. Still, if you have the time to read individual postings and can weed the good from the bad, individual experience anecdotes are refreshing and may be of benefit to prospective dieters. Having done our own weeding out, Sure Slim, Weight Watchers and Atkins are leading the pack. The Glucose Revolution receives a perfect five-star rating, but with too few respondents to warrant inclusion in our picks.
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