Consumer Reports Weighs In On the New Diets
The Volumetrics plan takes top honors, while other top diets are close behind.
May 8, 2007— -- YONKERS, NY -- The June issue of Consumer Reports features an in-depth report on dieting, identifying "The Volumetrics Eating Plan" as the top-rated clinically tested diet plan and "The Best Life Diet" as the top rated diet book. Consumer Reports also outlines eight winning strategies for losing weight and three tactics that are unlikely to help.
Consumer Reports is available at newsstands beginning on May 8th. Portions of the diet report are available for free online at www.ConsumerReports.org.
Consumer Reports rated eight popular diet plans that have been studied in clinical trials.
Ratings are based on adherence to nutritional guidelines (the 2005 U.S. Dietary Guidelines for Americans) and the results of published randomized clinical studies that reported short-term (3-6 months) and long-term (12 months) results and together studied at least 40 subjects per diet.
The top-rated Volumetrics diet employs a strategy of consuming "low-density" foods and encourages dieters to first take the edge off of hunger by consuming a low calorie soup or salad. CR notes that other diets, while not as explicit about employing this promising strategy, recommend ways to reduce calories while consuming larger volumes of food to stay satiated.
While Volumetrics was top-rated, Weight Watchers, Jenny Craig, and Slim-Fast followed closely together.
Weight Watchers uses weekly meetings and weigh-ins for motivation and behavioral support for diet and exercise changes. It scored average on weight loss but first in long-term adherence. CR experts found recipes appetizing and fairly easy to prepare.
Jenny Craig enlists dieters to sign up for individual counseling and meal plans at company outlets, by phone, or online. A study of client histories revealed high dropout rates, though those who stuck with the plan lost considerable weight. A clinical trial revealed better adherence. The Jenny Craig diet requires minimal food preparation.
Slim-Fast is a brand line of controlled calorie shakes and bars, widely available in drugstores and supermarkets. The menu analyzed by Consumer Reports meets dietary guidelines. Clinical studies show above-average long-term weight loss but a high long-term dropout rate.
