Very Low-Cal Diet Gets Results

While many physicians advise losing weight slowly and consistently over time, one new study says people do better with an intense, very low calorie regimen. The University of Kentucky Health Management Resources Program study finds that people maintain weight losses significantly better on a more severe program compared to a more moderate plan.

The study of 112 people who completed an intensive weight management program of 900 calories per day finds on average people lost 65 pounds over five months. The diet consists of five weight loss shakes and two low-calorie packaged meals each day.

On average, 23 percent of the people kept the weight off for more than five years. Researchers say 25 percent were able to maintain a weight loss of 10 percent of their initial body weight after seven years.

On average, people lose 9 percent of initial body weight through modest weight loss programs, while individuals in this study lost 26 percent and kept more of it off longer. Health experts say losing even 5 to 10 percent of your body weight can lower your risk for disease and have a positive impact on your health.