Newswise — You've heard it a thousand times before -- there's no quick fix when it comes to losing weight.
Many diets share a common thread -- they're low in calories. "There's nothing magic about certain foods or combinations of foods -- a calorie is a calorie no matter when or how it's consumed," says Donald Hensrud, M.D., a nutrition specialist at Mayo Clinic. The July issue of Mayo Clinic Women's HealthSource weighs in on four popular diets:
Dr. Atkins' New Diet Revolution: This diet focuses on controlling the carbohydrates you eat. However, there's evidence that foods restricted on this diet, and the foods allowed, are associated with increased health risks. With this diet, you may lose weight in the short term but harm your long-term health.
South Beach Diet: Dieters focus on eating certain carbohydrates and fats and avoiding foods with a high glycemic index -- a ranking of carbohydrate-containing foods based on their effects on blood sugar. But, the South Beach Diet lacks emphasis on lifestyle changes, which are critical for weight management. The last phase of this diet isn't much different from basic weight-management advice.
The Zone: The premise is that eating specific quantities of food at prescribed times changes metabolism in a way that results in weight loss and other health benefits. However, there's little evidence that metabolism can be manipulated by eating set combinations of foods at set times. People lose weight on this diet because it is low in total calories and emphasizes fruits and vegetables.
Weight Watchers: This diet includes eating a variety of foods within a point system in which point values are assigned to foods based on their fat, fiber and calorie content. This is coupled with keeping a food diary and attending weekly meetings.
Weight Watchers is one of the healthiest weight loss programs available, promoting balance, moderation and long-lasting weight control. But, some people find the point system cumbersome and the weekly meetings don't work for everyone.
Mayo Clinic Women's HealthSource is published monthly to help women enjoy healthier, more productive lives. Revenue from subscriptions is used to support medical research at Mayo Clinic. To subscribe, please call 800-876-8633, extension 9PK1.
RSS