News 7

A CONTROVERSIAL weight-loss study has found the best way to shed flab is to do it fast.

Dietitian Katrina Purcell presented a study to an international obesity conference in Stockholm this week which defied conventional wisdom that "slow and steady" was the best way to permanently ditch those muffin tops.

Ms Purcell, a University of Melbourne researcher, compared a rapid diet - with subjects weighing about 100kg losing 1.5kg a week for 12 weeks - to a 36-week diet in which participants lost 0.5kg a week.

"Surprisingly and against current beliefs this study shows rapid weight loss appears to be superior to gradual weight loss in achieving target weight," she said.

Her results found 78 per cent of those on the rapid diet achieved the target loss of 15 per cent of their body weight within the period, while only 48 per cent of those on the gradual diet met their target.

In fact, four people on the gradual diet gave up before the end of the experiment, compared with only one in the rapid diet group.

Ms Purcell said one explanation could be psychological, with those achieving big weekly results remaining more motivated.

The dietitian, however, warned against crash diets, in which weight was lost very quickly by slashing calories.

"Don't do it by yourself, do it with a dietitian," she cautioned.

Dietitians Association of Australia spokeswoman Melanie McGrice said the heavier you were, the easier it was to shed kilograms quickly.

But she warned that "what you lost" was more important, with crash diets likely to strip the body of muscle tone and water than targeting fat cells.

"If you're going to go on a diet where you're losing weight quite quickly, you need to maintain your nutritional requirements," she said.

"Research has shown if the weight is lost slowly you keep it off."

Conventional weight-loss wisdom holds the quicker it comes off, the quicker it returns - with interest - so Ms Purcell plans to follow her subjects over the next three years to see which of the two groups best maintains their target weight.'

The study comes as the Federal Government committed $6 million to helping 150,000 Australians fight obesity and improve their health.

Health Minister Nicola Roxon yesterday announced six not-for-profit organisations would receive $6.3 million to implement national programs to help fight obesity.

Comments:

It has been increasingly alarming that obesity problems in Australia has surged exponentially in recent years. It is no longer a symptom to alert us to watch after our future health but is now a disease that adversely affects our health and might even kills lives. Therefore it is indispensably necessary for the Federal Government and people nationwide regardless of status to seriously look at this issue as we should not simply risk our lives just like that.

As we can read from the news above, a new research has shown that on contrary to the conventional wisdom that "slow and steady" weight-loss program can contribute to a better result, rapid diet appears to be more superior to gradual diet in achieving target weight loss. This is attributed to the psychological effect experienced by the participant s of the weight loss being more motivated in achieving big weekly results. In brief, more relevant researches must be carried out in order to find a good solution to this ever-increasing health problem.

In addition, Australia Federal Government noticeably has diverted some focus to the prevalent obesity in their country and put much effort as to address it efficiently. In illustration, 6 million has been committed by the Federal Government to help 150,000 Australian to fight obesity. In short, everyone should take care of their health carefully. Maintaining a balanced diet is not only important to have nice body shape or muscular tone, but it also helps to make sure we can lead a healthy and happy lifestyle. Hence, everyone let's just get started to practice a healthier diet and lifestyle!!