So when it comes to losing weight, which diet comes out on top?
As it turns out, the answer is all of them, according to a new study published in the journal Circulation: Cardiovascular Quality & Outcomes.
“From our results, no weight-loss diet came across as a clear winner,” says Renee Atallah, a research assistant at the Jewish General Hospital and McGill University in Montreal. “People who want to shed excess pounds should choose diet changes they can live with for the long haul.”
In the study, Atallah and her research team examined a total of 12 studies which tested how well certain diets helped people lose weight, including Atkins, South Beach, the Zone, and Weight Watchers. All of the studies lasted for one year and looked at how these diets fared against a standard healthy diet.
While all studies claimed to be the best at helping people lose weight, the results showed that wasn’t the case. Instead, all of the diets helped people lose anywhere 4 to 24 pounds in any given year, with no evidence indicating one diet was better than the other.
As for which diet helped people lose weight consistently, however, it was Weight Watchers–a diet which helped people lose up to 13 pounds a year on average.
“Americans have been jumping on these diets and spending a lot of money,” says Jim White, a spokesperson from the National Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics who did not participate in the study. “We need studies like these to know whether they actually work in the long term. People often want quick fixes. But in my experience, most of our successful clients are those whose weight goes down slowly.”
In addition, experts note that all of these diets share one thing in common: They help reduce calories. While the way in which they lower a person’s caloric intake may vary, it all results in the same outcome, provided they stick to the diet plan, says White.
“In the short term, any diet–even the Twinkie diet–will work if you’re cutting calories,” says White. “The key is to adopt a balanced diet that gives you the nutrients you need–fiber, protein and “good” unsaturated fats–and does not leave you feeling deprived.”
What You Should Do
As the old saying goes, the best diet is the diet you can stick to–now researchers prove this old adage is true. Your best bet for keeping the weight off? Find a diet that suits your own personal needs and desires, and not necessarily one that helps you lose the most weight. While most diets claim to help you lose more weight, the evidence simply doesn’t add up.
Readers: Which diet is your favorite and why?
Sources:
Big-Name Diets All Work For a While, Review Finds – WebMD.com
Researchers Question Long-Term Benefits of Popular Diets – MedicalNewsToday.com
Popular Diets May All Result in Similar Long-Term Outcomes, Review Finds – Heart.org
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