Nutrition Science and Everyday Application - beta v 0.1

BEST PRACTICES FOR WEIGHT MANAGEMENT 423
EVIDENCE-BASED APPROACHES TO WEIGHT LOSS
In spite of the challenges imposed by biological processes in the body, there is significant
evidence to suggest that successful weight loss and maintenance is possible. There are
many approaches when considering options for weight loss, and no single treatment is
right for everyone. In fact, while following a lower-calorie healthy eating plan is often the
first approach to weight loss, research shows that there is no single dietary strategy that
is superior to others. 9,10 For example, a recent trial, called the DIETFITS study, followed
participants on either a low-fat or low-carbohydrate diet for one year and found no
significant difference in weight loss between study groups. And both dietary strategies
produced a range of weight loss results, with some participants losing over 60 pounds and
others gaining 20 pounds over the course of the year, suggesting that what works for one
individual may produce varying results in others. 1
Figure 7.25. Results from the DIETFITS study show that regardless of the type of diet followed,
participants experienced a similar wide range of changes in weight.
To learn more about the DIETFITS study, check out the following video.