ResearchPerspectives in PracticeA Dietary Quality Comparison of Popular Weight-Loss Plans
Section snippets
Diet Selection
Eight weight-loss plans were selected for comparison, including New Glucose Revolution, two Weight Watchers plans, Atkins, South Beach, Zone, Ornish (8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13), and the 2005 US Department of Agriculture Food Guide Pyramid (2005 Food Guide Pyramid) (14). Weight-loss plans were selected because of their status on the New York Times Bestseller list during the past 5 years. Weight Watchers and the 2005 Food Guide Pyramid plan were included because they are the largest commercial
Results
The AHEI scores (Table) ordered from the highest to the lowest plan were: Ornish (score 64.6), Weight Watchers high-carbohydrate (score 57.4), the New Glucose Revolution (score 57.2), South Beach/Phase 2 (score 50.7), Zone (score 49.8), 2005 Food Guide Pyramid (score 48.7), Weight Watchers high-protein (score 47.3), Atkins/100-g carbohydrate (score 46), the South Beach/Phase 3 (score 45.6), and Atkins/45-g carbohydrate (score 42.3). The omnibus test revealed a statistically significant
Discussion
The HEI was created by the US Department of Agriculture to identify dietary factors associated with reduced CVD risk and to evaluate a plan’s potential to improve physiological states such as blood lipid levels and obesity (7). The original HEI was inadequate to predict CVD mortality because it failed to distinguish between different types of carbohydrates and fats (26, 27). Using data from the Nurses’ Health Study and the Health Professional’s Follow-up Study, McCullough and colleagues (16, 17
Conclusions
The AHEI is a valuable tool in selecting a weight-loss plan that maximizes both weight loss and CVD prevention. None of the popular weight-loss plans studied achieved a perfect AHEI score, but the Ornish, Weight Watchers high-carbohydrate, and New Glucose Revolution plans were among the best performers using the AHEI and traditional dietary quality assessments. In light of limitations mentioned, further investigations are warranted to observe what patients actually consume when following a
Y. Ma, S. L. Pagoto, and P. A. Merriam are assistant professors of Medicine, J. A. Griffith is a research associate, A. R. Hafner is a research assistant, and B. C. Olendzki is an instructor of Medicine, all with the Division of Preventive and Behavioral Medicine, and I. S. Ockene is a professor of Medicine with the Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester.
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Y. Ma, S. L. Pagoto, and P. A. Merriam are assistant professors of Medicine, J. A. Griffith is a research associate, A. R. Hafner is a research assistant, and B. C. Olendzki is an instructor of Medicine, all with the Division of Preventive and Behavioral Medicine, and I. S. Ockene is a professor of Medicine with the Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester.