Other popular diet approaches to managing obesity
include:
Protein Sparing Modified Fast
A special weight loss program called Protein Sparing
Modified Fast was introduced in the late 1970s by George
Blackburn and co-workers at the New England Deaconess Hospital
in Boston.
This program consists of a special low carbohydrate, low
fat, high protein diet designed to protect body protein mass
while selectively using body fat as an energy source. It is
supplemented with extra vitamins, minerals, and
electrolytes.
A weight loss of between two and three pounds a week has
been observed. Compliance with the diet is problematic due to
the unpalatability of the restricted diet. Regaining weight is
the rule if the diet is discontinued.
High-Protein, Low-Carbohydrate Diet
Commercial variants of the protein sparing modified fast
diet program have become quite popular. It has gone under such
names as Stillmans' Quick Weight Loss Diet, The Scarsdale
Medical Diet, Atkins' Weight Loss Revolution, and the more
recent Sugar Busters, Enter the Zone, Atkins' New Diet
Revolution, and Protein Power diets. These diets fall into two
main groups: very-low-carbohydrate (10 to 15 percent of
calories from carbohydrates), or moderate-carbohydrate diets
(40 percent of calories as carbohydrates).
- The Atkins Diet and Protein Power are examples of the
very-low-carbohydrate diets. Average daily caloric intake is
about 1,200 kcal and contains 30 to 45 gm carbohydrates, 90
gm of protein, and 70-80 gm fat.
- The Zone and Sugar Busters diets follow the
moderate-carbohydrate diets. Average daily caloric intake is
also about 1,200 kcal but they contains 120 gm carbohydrates,
90 gm of protein, and 40 gm fat. With proper supervision and
appropriate transition to “standard” diet programs, these
diets can be safe and moderately effective, although no
long-term study has been conducted documenting maintenance of
weight loss. Serious metabolic deficiencies and complications
can occur if proper monitoring is not performed.
Unfortunately, none of these diets have demonstrated
long-term maintenance of weight loss.
