A new study conducted by the chief of the clinical obesity and metabolism division at Pennington Biomedical Research Center finds the key to losing weight is to pick a diet — any diet, as long as it’s heart-healthy and reduces caloric intake. The study by Dr. George Bray, dubbed “Pounds Lost,” was published this week in the New England Journal of Medicine.
Bray, collaborating with researchers at Harvard’s School of Public Health, found by studying volunteers that four different types of diets — high fat, low fat, protein and carbohydrate — all led to long-term weight loss. Participants on average lost 13 pounds in six months and maintained a 9-pound loss at two years. Participants also reduced their waistlines by 1 to 3 inches by the end of the study. “The good news here is people who need to lose weight can be flexible to choose an approach that they’re most likely to sustain — one that is most suited to their personal preferences and health needs,” Bray says.
