The Top 10 Diets That Work
The folks at The Daily Beast have had a go at ranking commercial diets. They've searched through clinical studies and attempted to rank the diets according to amount of weight lost over 6-12 months, and retention rate.
This is a difficult exercise to do as cherry-picked trials never give a whole picture, and is it really possible to rank diets? Well... it doesn't stop us trying.
Here are the top 10:
- Volumetrics
- American Heart Association Low-Fat Diet
- Atkins
- Mediterranean Diet
- Weight Watchers
- Slim-Fast
- Jenny Craig
- Ornish Diet
- LEARN Diet
- Zone Diet
Check out the full details and background info at the Daily Beast.
It seems that most of the rankings come from just a few studies, and it's worth pointing out that ConsumerReports did a similar exercise in 2007. To get these rankings in context here is a quote from a 2005 Annals of Internal Medicine diet review:
"With the exception of Weight Watchers, the evidence to support the effectiveness of major commercial weight loss programs is limited. Patients considering the use of commercial weight loss programs should realize that these programs have not been carefully studied and that they vary greatly in cost."
The best diet is the one you don't know you're on.
It's also worth noting that the review from Consumer Reports in 2007 (using pretty much the same source material) ranked them in this order (best to worst)
Volumetrics, Weight Watchers, Jenny Craig, Slim-Fast, eDiets, The Zone Diet, Ornish Diet and, in last place, the Atkin's Diet.
ReplyI lost 90 lbs 9 years ago and have kept it off using a combination of WW and Volumetrics. Basically, I did the WW plan but used the principles of Volumetrics to choose the right kinds of foods so I would be satisfied enough to stay on the plan. I could never understand the people who complained that they were always hungry on WW. My guess was that they were getting all 18 points per day in the form of half a cheeseburger and some fries and I was getting MY 18 points in the form of oatmeal, fruit, tuna fish, salad, carrots, celery, yogurt, and other veggies.
ReplyI actually think that many of these structured commercial diet plans do work, you just need to stick with them. Avoid fads or gimmicks though - if it sounds too good to be true, it usually is.
The problem with Ediets and Weight Watchers et al. is that as good as they are, they cost quite alot of money. There are alternatives out there which surely has to be good when times are tough as they are now.
1. You could just try calorie counting by recording everything you eat and drink in a spreadsheet, or on pen and paper for that matter.
2. There are also free sites out there that are worth trying as well, although they may be a little more basic than the likes of E-Diets. Try Purple Weight Loss (www.purpleweightloss.com). Someone posted a link to this on a weight loss forum recently so I have given it a go. So far, it seems quite good - it has given me a free weight loss plan and the diary is okay. Calcount (www.calcount.com) in another option that I have heard of but haven't tried. Calorie King (www.calorieking) too gives you calorie information.
Good luck.
ReplyInteresting to see the AHA's diet up there along with the others, it's quite an varied mix of diets. And, totally agree with you, Jim:
"The best diet is the one you don't know you're on."
Absolutely!!!!!
ReplyTo me, the best diet out there is the one you don't call a diet but call a lifestyle change for life. I understand that they need to use that diet word to get people to "buy in" BUT to me, it says that you are going to go on something for a while & then go off after you lose the weight. Ya have to make changes that can be sustained life long. Eat better, eat less if you are eating too much & move more.
ReplySome of those diets do cost a lot of money and it can take a toll especially if you're on a budget. I know several people (women especially) who've had success on WW & Volumetrics, I just haven't been one of them! :(
ReplyBut I do feel the results are limited because of the lack of evidence to support other programs. I'm sure this list would be drastically different every commercial weight loss plan had true statistics and true information on its effectiveness.
Most if not all these diets have books out, many of which you can borrow free from your library, or, buy used or new. Also, there are lots of websites out there that have the basic tenets of each of these diets, again available free.
So expense is not really an issue, unless you are purchasing their branded foods or are on the programs. There's no reason why you can't get together with your friends and make up your own informal support group, either, if you feel that would help.
ReplyI think the South Beach Diet needs to get on that list!
ReplyI've found that a combination of an alkaline diet and a Mediterranean diet really helps my health issues and weight management. I combined both the principles of the alkaline diet with the Mediterranean Food Pyramid and call my diet The Alkaline Mediterranean Diet. It's the diet I aim for in my life and what I recommend for my patients. I find that it helps with arthritis, and chronic skin problems that include inflammation such as acne, rosacea, psoriasis etc. It may also help with calcium loss from bones.
Cynthia Bailey MD
ReplyI think that Freshology should be on this list!! I just started last week and omg the food is SO good..and i'm already losing weight. I found about them through their Facebook page. Best thing i've tried so far, I feel great!
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