All About Weight has the most modern and dynamic approach to weight loss and aim to always be able to update it's products according to the most up to date evidence so that they will always be leading the way in safe, fast and effective weight loss.
Some of the research is summarised here.
There is a wealth of research showing the safety and effectiveness of Very Low Calorie Diets (VLCDs) using meal replacements. Many commercially available VLCDs are difficult to follow because they require abstinence from food and supply a minimum of calories and nutrition. All About Weight does not believe in abstinence from food and we have found that such draconian regimes provide no added benefit. They are unnecessarily difficult for dieters and increase the risk of unpleasant side effects. They also do not encourage a healthy attitude towards food and healthy eating behaviours that are the key to long term weight maintenance. This view is supported by the research, some of which is summarised below.
Moreno O et al (2006) Comparison of two low-calorie diets: a prospective study of effectiveness and safety. Journal of Endocrinological Investigation. 2006 Jul-Aug;29(7):633-40.
This trial directly compared a 458kcal diet with an 800kcal diet and that both reduced weight, blood pressure and insulin resistance, with no significant difference between the two. The authors conclude that “The 3-month 800 kcal/day VLCD was more cost-effective and safer than the 1-month 458 kcal/day diet.”
Lin WY, Wu CH, Chu NF, Chang CJ. (2009) Efficacy and safety of very-low-calorie diet in Taiwanese: a multicenter randomized, controlled trial. Nutrition. 2009 Nov-Dec;25(11-12):1129-36. Epub 2009 Jul 9.
This study compared two VLCDs- one of 450kcal and one of 800kcal. Both diets were safely and effectively reduced weight. The more people following the 800kcal diet lost 10% of their body weight, and this group had better improvement in non alcoholic fatty liver disease than the 450kcal group. The authors conclude that the more restrictive diet had no additional benefit.
Saris WH (2001) Very Low Calorie Diets and sustained weight loss. Obesity research Nov;9 Suppl 4:295S-301S.
This review looked at VLCDs and their efficacy at producing lasting weight loss. The authors conclude that “VLCD with active follow-up treatment seems to be one of the better treatment modalities related to long-term weight-maintenance success.” They found no difference in weight loss between diets ranging from 400-800kcal/day. This study also supports the All About Weight approach of including nutritional education and exercise in their plans to improve weight maintenance.
Tsai AG, Wadden TA. (2006) The evolution of very-low-calorie diets: an update and meta-analysis. Obesity. Aug;14(8):1283-93.
This meta-analysis complied data from 6 randomized trials and found that VLCDs and LCDs resulted in a similar weight loss at 1 year after maximum weight loss. The authors suggest that a LCD using meal replacements that provides between 1000 and 1500kcal may be more cost effective method of weight loss than a VLCD.
Rössner S, Flaten H (1997) VLCD versus LCD in long-term treatment of obesity. International
Journal of Obesity Relatated Metabolic Disordorders. 21:22-6
This study
compared 3 diets providing 120kcal, 530kcal or 880kcal. They found all three to
be equally effective at reducing weight initially and maintaining weight loss 1
year later. The 880kcal dieters reported fewer side effects.
Riecke, BF et al (2010) low-energy diets for the treatment of knee osteoarthritis symptoms in
obese patients: a pragmatic randomized clinical trial Volume 18, Issue 6,
Pages 746-754
Osteoarthritis
(OA) is commonly associated with obesity. This study of 192 obese people with
osteoarthritis of the knee, compared diets of either 410kcal or 810kcal per day
to see if they were effective at reducing the symptoms of OA. Both diets
produced a good weight loss and reduction in pain and symptoms of OA, with no
significant difference between the two diets.
Christensen P, Bliddal H, Riecke BF, Leeds AR Astrup A, R. Christensen R. (2011) Comparison of a low-energy diet and a very low-energy diet in sedentary obese individuals: a pragmatic randomized controlled trial
2 diets were compared, for the initial weight loss phase. These were both based on high protein, fortified meal replacement products. The VLED provided 420–554 kcal/day and the LED 810kcal/day. After 8 weeks, this was followed with a 1200kcal/day diet that combined meal replacement products with added foods. This approach is very similar to the one recommended by All About Weight i.e.: a diet around 810kcal for the initial weight loss phase (The Rapid plan) followed by the gradual reintroduction of food combined with Mealpaks (the Regular and 50/50 plan). In this study, both diets resulted in significant weight loss and the authors concluded: “The VLED and LED regimens were equally successful in inducing weight loss. The significantly lower loss of lean tissue in the LED group together with more frequently reported side effects in the VLED group, favours the choice of low-energy diet (LED) for the treatment of obesity.
All About Weight is based on a low carbohydrate diet because this has been shown to be more effective at reducing weight fast, and have benefits in terms of maintaining resting metabolic rate and muscle mass; reducing markers of cardiovascular disease risk; controlling appetite; improving insulin sensitivity and controlling blood sugar over a high carbohydrate, low fat diet.
Mathieson RA, Walberg JL, Gwazdauskas FC, Hinkle DE, Gregg JM. (1986) The effect of varying carbohydrate content of a very-low-caloric diet on resting metabolic rate and thyroid hormones. Metabolism. May;35(5):394-8.
This study of 12 obese women found that the low carbohydrate (LC) group lost more significantly weight than the high carbohydrate (HC) group. The LC group had a smaller decrease in their resting metabolic rate, but this was thought to be non-significant.
Foster GD et al (2010) Weight and Metabolic Outcomes After 2 Years on a Low-Carbohydrate Versus Low-Fat Diet. A Randomized Trial. Annals of Internal Medicine 3 Aug. Vol 153, P 147-157
This trial found that after 2 years, both diets reduced weight by equivalent amounts, and the low carbohydrate group had more favourable changes in risk factors for heart disease than the low fat diet group.
G. D. Brinkworth, M. Noakes, B. Parker, P. Foster and P. M. Clifton (2004) Long-term effects of advice to consume a high-protein, low-fat diet, rather than a conventional weight-loss diet, in obese adults with Type 2 diabetes: one-year follow-up of a randomised trial Diabetologia Vol 47, Number 10, 1677-1686
This study of 38 people with type 2 diabetes concluded that “A high-protein weight-reduction diet may in the long term have a more favourable cardiovascular risk profile than a low-protein diet with similar weight reduction in people with Type 2 diabetes.”
Gannon, MC; Nuttall, FQ; Saeed, A; Jordan, K; Hoover, H (2003) An increase in dietary protein improves the blood glucose response in persons with type 2 diabetes Am J Clin Nutr 2003;78:734–41.
This study compared a high protein diet to normal dietary recommendations to investigate their effect on blood glucose control when weight remained stable. The authors conclude that “A high-protein diet lowers blood glucose postprandially in persons with type 2 diabetes and improves overall glucose control.”
PARKER, B; NOAKES, M; LUSCOMBE, N; CLIFTON, P (2002) Effect of a High-Protein, High–Monounsaturated Fat Weight Loss Diet on Glycemic Control and Lipid Levels in Type 2 Diabetes Diabetes Care 25:425-430
This study found that a high protein, low carbohydrate diet produced a larger reduction in total and abdominal fat in women, and greater reduction in cholesterol for both sexes than a lower protein, higher carbohydrate diet.
PARKER, B; NOAKES, M; LUSCOMBE, N; CLIFTON, P (2002) Effect of a High-Protein, High–Monounsaturated Fat Weight Loss Diet on Glycemic Control and Lipid Levels in Type 2 Diabetes Diabetes Care 25:425-430
This study found that a high protein, low carbohydrate diet produced a larger reduction in total and abdominal fat in women, and greater reduction in cholesterol for both sexes than a lower protein, higher carbohydrate diet.