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to: Nutrition
Central > Weight Control |
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Weight
Control
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Choosing
a Responsible Weight Loss Program
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Health Fact
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| Obesity
affects about one in four adult Americans, and during
any one year, over half of Americans go on a weight-loss
diet or are trying to maintain their weight. |
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There
are many weight-loss programs available today, These programs
can only work if they result in a decrease the amount of calories
you eat or increase the amount of calories you burn. What are
major elements of a weight-loss program should an informed consumer
look for in deciding if a program provides for safe and successful
weight loss?
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A
responsible and safe weight-loss program should be able to document
for you the five following features:
- The
diet should be safe. It should include all of the Recommended
Daily Allowances (RDAs) for vitamins, minerals, and protein.
The weight-loss diet should be low in calories (energy)
only, not in essential foodstuffs.
- The
weight-loss program should be directed towards a slow, steady
weight loss unless your doctor feels your health condition
would benefit from more rapid weight loss. Expect to lose
only about a pound a week after the first week or two. With
many calorie-restricted diets there is an initial rapid
weight loss during the first I to 2 weeks, but this loss
is largely fluid. The initial rapid loss of fluid also is
regained rapidly when you return to a normal-calorie diet.
Thus, a reasonable goal of weight loss must be expected.
- If
you plan to lose more than 15 to 20 pounds, have any health
problems, or take medication on a regular basis, you should
be evaluated by your doctor before beginning your weight-loss
program. A doctor can assess your general health and medical
conditions that might be affected by dieting and weight
loss. Also, a physician should be able to advise you on
the need for weight loss, the appropriateness of the weight-loss
program, and a sensible goal of weight loss for you. If
you plan to use a very-low-calorie diet (a special liquid
formula diet that replaces all food intake for I to 4 months),
you definitely should be examined and monitored by a doctor.
- Your
program should include plans for weight maintenance after
the weight loss phase is over. It is of little benefit to
lose a large amount of weight only to regain it. Weight
maintenance is the most difficult part of controlling weight
and is not consistently implemented in weight-loss programs.
The program you select should include help in permanently
changing your dietary habits and level of physical activity,
to alter a lifestyle that may have contributed to weight
gain in the past. Your program should provide behavior modification
help, including education in healthy eating habits and long-term
plans to deal with weight problems. One of the most important
factors in maintaining weight loss appears to be increasing
daily physical activity, often by sensible increases in
daily activity, as well as incorporating an individually
tailored exercise program.
- A
commercial weight-loss program should provide a detailed
statement of fees and costs of additional items such as
dietary supplements.
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Obesity
is a chronic condition. Too often it is viewed as a temporary
problem that can be treated for a few months with a strenuous
diet. However, as most overweight people know, weight control
must be considered a life-long effort. To be safe and effective,
any weight-loss program must address the long-term approach
or else the program is largely a waste of money and effort.
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In
part from the National Institues of Health and theNational Task
Force on Prevention and Treatment of Obesity, a subcommittee
of the National Digestive Diseases Advisory Board. |
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