The most common and conservative treatment for obesity utilizes a nutritionally balanced, low calorie diet. Most health-care professionals and commercial weight-loss programs recommend diets consisting of 1,200 to 1,500 calories per day, usually in the following proportions: 60 percent carbohydrate, 30 percent fat, and 10 percent protein. Research from university obesity treatment centers indicates that patients who follow a low calorie diet lose 10 percent of their initial weight in 20 weeks. Without further treatment, however, patients usually regain one-third of the weight in the following year.
A more aggressive approach for persons who are more than 20 kg (40 lb) overweight includes very low calorie diets ranging from 400 to 800 calories per day. These diets are usually based on four to five servings of a liquid formula each day. Candidates must be carefully screened and medically supervised while on the diet. People on very low calorie diets lose approximately 15 to 20 percent of their initial body weight in 16 weeks. Once they go off a very low calorie diet, they typically regain approximately one-half of that weight within a year.
Meal replacements are liquid shakes or portion-controlled meals that are substituted for one or two meals a day. They are typically used as part of a 1,200 to 1,500 calorie diet. Studies have shown that meal replacements are often more effective than very low calories diets, resulting in an increase in the amount of initial weight loss and enabling dieters to maintain their weight loss. Unlike very low calorie diets, meal replacements do not require that candidates receive extensive medical monitoring.
A more aggressive approach for persons who are more than 20 kg (40 lb) overweight includes very low calorie diets ranging from 400 to 800 calories per day. These diets are usually based on four to five servings of a liquid formula each day. Candidates must be carefully screened and medically supervised while on the diet. People on very low calorie diets lose approximately 15 to 20 percent of their initial body weight in 16 weeks. Once they go off a very low calorie diet, they typically regain approximately one-half of that weight within a year.
Meal replacements are liquid shakes or portion-controlled meals that are substituted for one or two meals a day. They are typically used as part of a 1,200 to 1,500 calorie diet. Studies have shown that meal replacements are often more effective than very low calories diets, resulting in an increase in the amount of initial weight loss and enabling dieters to maintain their weight loss. Unlike very low calorie diets, meal replacements do not require that candidates receive extensive medical monitoring.
