I just want to know which one of our lovely UK Fat Chicks is going to do it. (Participants required to wear 3FC tshirts - I swear, it's in the fine print)
Diet tests TV probe
Date: 6/24/02; Publication: The Mirror; Author: JAMES TAIT
A TV show is sponsoring the first scientific probe into which diet is best for shedding weight.
The BBC Diet Trials investigation should settle once and for all whether a low-calorie, low-fat, or a high-protein regime is the best way of dieting.
Scientists at the at Queen Margaret College in Edinburgh are looking for 150 volunteers to take part in the six month study.
Their progress will be followed in the Diet Trials programme to be shown next year.
Professor Anne De Looy, who is charge of the study, said: "We shall be focusing on five different diets."
JAMES TAIT, Diet tests TV probe. , The Mirror, 06-24-2002, pp 13.
I wont be volunteering I have seen and just about survived without kicking the tv the programme fat club that was probably advertised as a sensible programme too!
I'd like to save them the time and effort actually!
Judith Willis' "Diet Bible" has beaten them to it as far as I can see. For long term weight loss (surely the criteria for successful diets) a low fat diet is best! And that is also according to the World Health Organisation.
I have no reason to presume that an extended 'as shown on TV' research project will fly in the face of science so I feel that this project is of limited value (assuming it is as simple as the article suggests). Lets hope it makes better TV than Fat Club did! I couldn't stand another few weeks of screaming at the telly!!!
The fact that it is an Edinburgh Uni nearly swayed me, but its the fact that if they decide to show me on the telly and tell my weight and all to the world, that puts me off. I know I would have to agree to all that first, but I can't imagine admitting to the whole world, including friends, relatives and work colleagues I weigh nearly 16 and a half stone - bit daunting.
Stef - What you wrote was interesting, when I went to the eating disorders clinic last year they told me to go to WW as it was the most balanced plan (at the time I was at Rosemary Conley low fat club). My Doctor told me that the British Medical Association suggests WW too. Confused now as to what the best plan is
I would have to go with calorie counting. I gained 6 stones eating low fat food, portion control is all.
I dont use oil butter or any other fats in cooking though, mainly cos fats are so high in cals i would be too hungry!!!
WW and other clubs rate highly in the 'Diet Bible' they just get lower points as they are a 'diet' and need weighing, portion control and a conscious 'diet' head. Your GP and the clinic were both right, WW is the most balanced plan. But that doesn't mean it is necessarily the best way of losing weight safely and permanently.
The apparent benefit of low fat is, once you get the hang of low fat WITHOUT high kcals (read Tupperware Queen's post to see how this can go wrong), it becomes a lifestyle change and not a 'diet' as it doesn't involve weighing anything, just reading lables and cutting out solid and liquid fats as additives, e.g. cooking oil etc. So maintaining weight loss and a lifelong healthy eating plan should be easier. BUT it is really easy to gain weight on low fat, think boiled sweets and you'll see what I mean, no fat but oodles of kcals! So it isn't a complete 'no brainer', in Simpson speak!
The point the book and WHO are trying to make is that a diet is, psychologically speaking, a temporary measure taken to lose weight. A change to eating low fat is a lifestyle change, forever by definition. This is the ONLY reason that WW, SW etc do not rate more highly! They are really good diet plans, and if they work for you stick to it! If they don't work for you (and I couldn't keep the weight off when I tried) then you might need to re-think your lifestyle eating habits rather than 'dieting'.
I hope this explains my stand, one that is being increasingly pushed by some exercise and dietician scientists: The first rule of losing weight is DON'T DIET! For some people dieting causes more weight problems than it solves (anyone here who is, or has been, a constant yo-yo dieter will know what I mean) and those are the people I work with. For those for whom the WW plan works I wouldn't dream of knocking it, it is VERY effective for some people, both in losing weight and in maintaining the loss.
Lifestyle change is the thing to make your weight and world different. Easy to say, harder to do.
The key is to find out what makes it easy (ie you make less "real" sacrifices) is to identify what you love and agree with yourself acceptable alternatives + an agreed "day off" where you get to "break the rules".
Best of both worlds! It's worked or me, try it ... but no cheating
Rule for me is one piss-up night a week (tonight's it... you can't imagine how much retype I am doing, dyxlexic fingers!)
You all give me so much strength , thanx for being there.
150 volunteers needed for BBC Diet Trials
) In black please!
