Two thirds of Americans are overweight and succeeding at weight loss is quite a challenge for many dieters. A new study just published in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine (AJPM) reported that eating less, exercising more, and switching to healthier food worked best.
The researchers were from Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston and looked at data collected as part of the dietary intake survey National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES). The authors wrote in the study published online that “Liquid diets, nonprescription diet pills and popular diets showed no association with successful weight loss.”
The Los Angeles Times summarized what worked and what did not work for the dieters.
Here’s what the dieters tried that worked:
* 65% ate less food
* 44% ate less fat
* 41% switched to foods with fewer calories
* 4% took weight-loss medications that were prescribed by a doctor
* Joining a weight loss program was also helpful perhaps because of “the structure of being in a program.”
Here’s what the dieters tried that didn’t work:
* 41% drank more water
* 14% ate “diet foods or products”
* 10% used nonprescription diet pills, including herbal remedies
* 7% adopted a “liquid-diet formula.”
I was glad to see this study as I’ve been advocating eating less and moving more for years. While this old fashioned advice may not seem as sexy as some fad diets and supplements, it works for the long haul. And, it will save you money—no need to buy unneeded supplements.
Take home messages:
* Skip the fad diets and practice portion control instead.
* Go out and exercise. Pick something you enjoy and stick to it.
* Choose healthier and more nutrient dense foods. A good place to start is by eating more fruits and vegetables!
