Diet Wars

Did you know that in long term studies comparing various diets, researchers have found that most of the time the diet in question is a lot less important that whether or not the participants stuck with it?  Longer term studies reveal a fairly even playing field when it comes to the range of different diets around, meaning that the best diet is actually the diet that you can stick to.

In a two year study conducted by researchers, different diets were compared.  Diets ranging from those that were low fat, to those that were low-carb to Mediterranean style diets were tested.  The results showed that over the long run there was very little advantage of one over the other.

The most important factor found by the researchers was simply whether or not the individuals stuck with the diet.  This was the biggest correlation for long term weight loss.

So while protein diets can give you results somewhat faster than other approaches, the longer term studies do show that though there is some variation at the outset, the most important aspect is how well a dieter can stick with the program, whatever that program happens to be.

What this means for you therefore is that choosing a diet should be based upon which kind you think you are most likely to be able to stick with. 

For instance, if you are not a huge meat eater, than a high protein diet may not be the best thing for you.  Being asked to eat meat or protein at every meal and to forego many vegetables and fruits for some time might seem pretty unappetizing.  However, for the old meat and potato types, an Atkins or Dukan style diet (minus the potatoes of course), might sound like no challenge at all.

In sum, the diet you choose should be the one that matches up best with how you like to eat already.  While you’ll likely have to give up some of your go-to foods no matter which diet you choose, choosing one that is 180 degrees away from your eating style, no matter how much your friend’s mother’s husband lost, just isn’t going to work in the longer term.