Is There an Optimal Diet for Weight Management and Metabolic Health?

Abstract

Individuals can lose body weight and improve health status on a wide range of energy (calorie) restricted dietary interventions. In this paper, we have reviewed the effectiveness of the most commonly utilized diets, including low-fat, low-carbohydrate and Mediterranean approaches in addition to commercial slimming programmes, meal replacements and newly-popularized intermittent fasting diets. We also consider the role of artificial sweeteners in weight management. Low-fat diets tend to improve LDL-cholesterol most, whilst lower-carbohydrate diets may preferentially improve triglycerides and HDLcholesterol, however differences between diets are marginal. Weight loss improves almost all obesity related co-morbidities and metabolic markers, regardless of the macronutrient composition of the diet, but individuals do vary in preferences and ability to adhere to different diets. Optimizing adherence is the most important factor for weight loss success, and this is enhanced by regular professional contact and supportive behavioral change programs. Maintaining weight losses in the long-term remains the biggest challenge, and is undermined by an 'obesogenic' environment and biological adaptations that accompany weight loss.

A 48‐Hour Vegan Diet Challenge in Healthy Women and Men Induces a BRANCH‐Chain Amino Acid Related, Health Associated, Metabolic Signature

“…A similar flexitarian approach of alternating between animal and vegan protein choices requires only periodic alteration of an individual's dietary habits. Reducing the amount of habitual change on a frequent basis may increase adherence to dietary lifestyle change which has been shown to be the most important factor for diet success . Additionally, a flexitarian diet optimizes nutrient intake from all protein sources and prevents potential micronutrient deficiencies from an exclusively vegan diet.…”

“…Reducing the amount of habitual change on a frequent basis may increase adherence to dietary lifestyle change which has been shown to be the most important factor for diet success. [34] Additionally, a flexitarian diet optimizes nutrient intake from all protein sources and prevents potential micronutrient deficiencies from an exclusively vegan diet. Based on the results shown here, an intermittent vegan diet with healthful macronutrient and micronutrient balance may beneficially modulate blood insulin, lipids, and amino acids ( Figure 4A).…”

A Practical Guide to Delivering Nutritional Advice to People with Diabetes

“…At present, it is unlikely that this would be readily translated to general practice, but discussion is ongoing. For general weight management in those with established type 2 diabetes there is evidence that most dietary interventions are effective [ 20 ], that differences in outcomes between different strategies are small and insignificant [ 21 – 23 ], and that behavioural interventions increase efficacy [ 24 , 25 ].…”

Self‐Reported Weight‐Loss Methods and Weight Change: Ten‐Year Analysis in the Swedish Obese Subjects Study Control Group

“…The participants reported similar weight‐loss methods independent of losing or gaining ≥ 10% of weight. This indicates that it is not the method per se but rather the adherence to the selected method that is the key factor for weight‐loss success .…”