Commercial Weight Loss Diets and Nutrient Requirements
Author Information
Author(s): Helen Truby, Rebecca Hiscutt, Anne M Herriot, Manana Stanley, Anne deLooy, Kenneth R Fox, Susan Baic, Paula J Robson, Ian Macdonald, Moira A Taylor, Robert Ware, Catherine Logan, MBE Livingstone
Primary Institution: Children's Nutrition Research Centre, Royal Children's Hospital, Herston, Qld, Australia
Hypothesis
Do commercial weight loss programmes meet nutrient requirements over an 8-week period?
Conclusion
All tested diets resulted in significant changes in macronutrient composition and maintained nutritional adequacy.
Supporting Evidence
- Participants showed significant dietary compliance with the assigned diets.
- All diets resulted in a significant reduction in energy intake.
- Micronutrient intake remained above recommended levels for most nutrients.
- Weight loss was achieved across all active diet groups compared to control.
Takeaway
This study shows that popular weight loss diets can help people lose weight while still getting the nutrients they need.
Methodology
Participants were randomly assigned to follow one of four commercial diets and their dietary intake was assessed over 8 weeks.
Potential Biases
Potential bias due to self-selection of participants and reliance on self-reported dietary data.
Limitations
Self-reported dietary intake may lead to misreporting and the sample size may not represent all demographics.
Participant Demographics
Mean age 40.3 years, 79 males and 214 females, BMI range 27-38.
Statistical Information
P-Value
0.007
Confidence Interval
95% C.I. values provided for various dietary changes.
Statistical Significance
p<0.01
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
Want to read the original?
Access the complete publication on the publisher's website