Stick To Your Diet

A new study that was carried out by the science department of the United States Department of Agriculture has revealed that the best way to get thin and to lose the pounds is not so much through the diet type chosen but more to do with the whether you can handle sticking with it consistently. The research interestingly also notes that people who use a portion and calorie reduction diet are more likely to stay with their diet than those who use carb and fat reduction diets.

Four individual diets were chosen for the research and were evaluated over 12 months. The diets were a). Zone Diet, a low carb high protien diet. b). The Atkins Diet, a no carbs and high protein and fat diet. c).The Ornish Diet, a basic fat reduction diet and d.) The Weight Watchers Diet a portion control and calorie counting diet.

The study randomly chose the obese volunteers to one of the 4 diets putting forty people in each diet group and the people came from a cross section of the American obese population with regard to race, age, sex, BMI. The results that were published in the an Agricultural Research magazine showed that each of the diets had some significant weight loss benefits and all gave the participants a 10% betterment in the good and bad cholesterol level in the blood.

The down side was that the results were only visible in those who lasted out the full 12 months. Those who were chosen to do what the research team called the  more extreme dieting using the Atkins and Ornish plans had only a 50% success rate of finishing the 12 months whereas the participants using the less harsh diets namely the Weight Watchers and Zone Diets had a success rate of nearly 2/3rds.

It is intersting to note that all diets worked for all people. Whether it was a low calorie or low carb or low fat the results were similar and all participants reported weight loss. Statistically, the weight loss results showed that the type of diet plan didn't matter, what was important was that the diet was adhered to properly and precisely.

The results add weight to the arguments that calorie reduction is the essential factor for weight loss.The researcher also said that low calorie diets should include foods that people like and eat regularily and that a diet that tries to be too drastic and unrealistic to a person's lifestyle is bound to fail. The diet should also look at a long term plan and becoming an easy and sustainable diet for the person to follow after the weight loss is complete.

Living healthily means having a good body mass, incorporating a healthy balance of nutritious food and limiting the amount eaten. Exercise and getting fit are also beneficial for the long term maintenance of weight loss.

The study researchers also said that statistics showed that obese people who bettered cholesterol levels by 10% had improved heart function and reduced their heart disease risk by 20% overall. The statistics also pointed to the fact that each and every percentage point of body mass weight loss achieved will result in a 2% lowering of cardiovascular disease risk.

The last thing that all 4 diets showed was lower insulin levels in the blood and low amounts of C-reactive protein. Excessive amounts of C-reactive protein are often found in those with cardio disease.