Scientist say the best way to lose weight is to undergo a steady reduction in calories, rather than jumping to a huge deficit.
New research, following a study of around 200 people, found that dieters were more likely to maintain their target weight if the lost at a rate of one pound a week. The study also found that those whose weight fluctuated the most during the initial weeks of dieting were less successful after reaching their target weight.
Principle investigator Psychologist Professor Michael Lowe, of Drexel University, Philadelphia, said: “Settle on a weight loss plan that you can maintain week in and week out, even if that means consistently losing three quarters of a pound each week.”
It is believed that this research could lead to developments in personalised diet plans based on mathematical equations, used to calculate weekly weight variability.
Currently, more than 60 per cent of British adults are overweight, with 25 per cent of adults classed as obese. The obesity crisis seems set to escalate in the near future, with experts predicting that 40 per cent of British adults will be obese by 2025.
Prior research has shown that two thirds of dieters will regain their weight within three years of hitting their targets.
Principle investigator Prof Lowe and colleagues have shown shedding consistent pounds each week is the key to overcoming the problem.
They said: “When it comes to losing weight, it is not necessarily slow, but steady, that wins the race.”
Lead author Emily Fieg, a PhD graduate student, said: “It seems that developing stable, repeatable behaviours related to food intake and weight loss early on in a weight control program is really important for maintaining changes over the long term.”
The research saw volunteers given a year-long weight loss program that included meal replacements and behavioural goals. The participants attended weekly groups for weigh-ins, with a final weigh-in two years after the program began.
