The soups and shakes of low calorie diets "recommended for the obese"

According to a BMJ study, diet replacement programs consisting of low-calorie soups, shakes and regular counseling should be an NHS-recommended treatment for obesity.

Researchers at Oxford University found that people on the diet lost three times more weight than those who had received regular dietary advice from their doctor.

And their risk of developing heart disease and type 2 diabetes have decreased.

But experts said it would only work if eating habits were permanently changed.

Professor Paul Aveyard, author of the study, general practitioner and professor of behavioral medicine at Oxford University, said that weight loss and weight maintenance were difficult.

"It's boring to follow a normal diet and people have a hard time keeping it for a year," he said.

"But these programs allow you to reach your maximum mental strength.

"You have to focus your efforts on 12 weeks and because they eat so little, they lose a lot of weight quickly."

Total diet replacement programs are designed for people who are obese or severely obese, with a body mass index (BMI) greater than 30, unable to lose weight despite changes in diet and lifestyle.

They are currently only available in private, not on the NHS.

Programs reduce daily caloric intake by replacing foods with specially formulated drinks, soups and snacks. Supplements of milk, water and fiber are also taken.

A typical daily intake might include:

• a mixture of skimmed milk chocolate and soy protein (145kcal)
• blend of skim milk soup and soy protein with chicken and mushroom flavor (138kcal)
• skimmed milk and mixed whole grain mixture (149kcal)
• Soy bar and milk protein with lemon flavor covered with a yoghurt-flavored coating (150kcal)

Stick to the scheme

In this study, 278 people from 10 Oxfordshire General Practitioner's Offices took half of the Cambridge Weight Plan for eight weeks, limiting intake to 810 kcal per day and then gradually reintroducing others. during the next four weeks.

Each week, they also consulted a trained counselor for a total of 24 weeks to help them follow the diet and keep their weight.

The other half of the participants received the usual tips on weight management and support from their medical office.

At each stage of the study, people following the diet replacement program lost more weight.

After one year, they lost an average of 1 lb (10.7 kg), compared to a half stone (3.1 kg) for those in the usual weight loss group.

When their blood pressure and cholesterol levels were measured, there were also notable improvements.

And people with type 2 diabetes were able to drastically reduce their medications, although the study found no evidence of the reversal of the disease.

"Potential to strengthen"

One in four adults in the UK is obese and the number of people diagnosed with type 2 diabetes is increasing.

Last year, a trial of patients with type 2 diabetes, who were on a reduced-calorie diet consisting of shakes and soups, found that half of them were able to lose enough weight. to reverse the situation.

It is often said that rapid weight loss on these types of programs could lead to a recovery in weight, but the researchers said the study showed that this was not the case.

Prof Aveyard said the program was an "effective intervention that general practitioners can confidently recommend, knowing that this leads to sustained weight loss and reduces the risk of heart disease and diabetes."

Barbara McGowan, a member of the Society for Endocrinology, endocrinology consultant and head of medical obesity services at Guy and St Thomas Hospital, said, "If it is cost-effective, a treatment for obesity. "

Dr. Katarina Kos, Lecturer on Diabetes and Obesity at the University of Exeter Medical School, said that people should not try any of these diets without help.

"Of course, weight loss is good if you are overweight, but a lot of research indicates that the only way to work is to use the program as a way of changing dietary habits," he said. she said. I said.

"Stay fit and healthy"

Helen Stokes-Lampard, who chairs the Royal College of GPs, said she would like to see more research in this area.

"Of course, what works for one patient may not work for another," she said. "Physicians will always aim to take into account the physical, psychological and social factors that can have an impact on a patient's health by giving them advice."

Prof. Helen Stokes-Lampard says that weight loss programs should not be considered the only option for patients.

"At the end of the day, the best way to stay fit and healthy is to stay active, eat healthy and balanced, get enough sleep, drink moderately according to instructions, and not smoke," she said. declared.