Popular diets and commercial weight loss programmes

Thousands of books, websites, videos, clubs, etc. provide advice on losing weight.

• some consist mainly of advice on what to eat - known as diets
• some market special food products or meal substitutes - known as meal replacement programmes
• some include advice on how to achieve the dietary change - known as weight loss programmes

Weight loss programmes

Weight loss programmes are usually based on providing support to motivate people to stick to their chosen weight loss plan over the long term.

This can come in the form of regular meetings, self-help manuals, support groups, online guidance, newsletters, or regular contact of other kind. Most weight loss programmes also have their own diet recommendations.

Research has shown that this kind of support can help some people to lose weight and maintain the weight loss.

Weight Concern believes that weight loss programmes should give advice which is scientifically valid, that the programme leaders should be appropriately trained, that the dietary recommendations should be healthy, and that the organisation should not exploit people.

Atkins diet

Cambridge

Cafeslim

Rosemary Conley

Slimfast

Slimming World

Weight Watchers

Diets

Diets range from the sensible to the crazy. As a rule of thumb, the crazier they are the more elaborate their theories. If they work at all, it is by keeping energy intake below energy expenditure.

Weight Concern believes the important differences between diets are:

• Whether the dietary advice is healthy - if the diet is nutritionally well-balanced, no-one is likely to be harmed by it
• Whether the dietary advice is easy to stick to - if the eating patterns proposed are sensible, people will be able to stick them for longer
• Whether the diet includes good advice on maintaining weight loss - it is easier to lose weight than it is to keep the weight off when the diet is over. Any good diet should include advice on 'maintenance'

Weight Concern recommends that if you want to follow a diet, you should:

• choose one with healthy dietary advice
• choose one that suits you personally in terms of being able to stick to the recommendations
• make sure that you have plans for maintaining weight loss over the long term

Be very cautious of following any dietary advice that steers you away from a healthy diet, except with medical advice.

Own brand 'healthier choice' type ready-meals

Miracle foods and fad diets

Meal replacement programmes

Meal replacement programmes have been around for a long time. They range from portion-controlled, calorie-counted ready-meals to very low calorie drinks to replace meals.

There is no doubt that some people find this an easier way to achieve a negative energy balance, but the return to normal eating without putting the weight back on can be very difficult.

Weight Concern believes that meal replacement programmes have a role to play but they do not suit everyone.

No-one should follow a very low calorie meal replacement programme without professional advice. Support for normal healthy eating after the end of the programme is important.