Scientists Assess Risks and Benefits of Medifast Diet

In theory, weight loss is supposed to be easy. If you eat less food and expend more energy through exercise, most experts say, the resulting calorie deficit should result in gradual weight loss.

That?s what they say, anyway. In truth, though, it?s not always that easy. For millions of men and women, dieting is an uphill battle. Anyone who has found themselves locked in a weight loss struggle can understand the appeal of taking drastic measures to succeed.

There are hundreds of quick weight loss methods out there, many of which have been deemed unsafe for long-term use. However, there are a select few virtually fail-proof ?extreme? diets that have been tested and approved by credible physicians and researchers.

One of the most well-known of these diets is the Medifast plan. This primarily liquid diet uses a strict low-carb, low-fat formula to induce a benign form of ketosis, the state that is also used to achieve rapid results in many popular low-carb diets. However, the use of the physician-supplied liquid protein shakes as the main source of nutrients offers dieters a stricter measure of control over their food intake.

For the dieters who are able to summon up the willpower to stick to the strict rules of the Medifast plan, the weight loss results are often quick and dramatic. However, despite the high success rate of the Medifast diet, the long-term maintenance success of dieters is often less than stellar.

Although the Medifast plan remains controversial, ongoing research efforts are being undertaken to further confirm the safety and efficacy of the diet. This week, we?ll take a look at several recent studies, advantages and disadvantages, pros and cons - the different aspects of the Medifast plan.

Johns Hopkins Researchers Confirm the Effectiveness of Medifast

Researchers at the world-renowned Johns Hopkins School of Medicine developed a study designed to test the safety and efficacy of the Medifast diet plan. In the study, a population of significantly overweight men and women were placed on the Medifast diet under the careful observation of the research staff.

At the conclusion of the study period, virtually all of the participants had lost substantial amounts of weight. Among male subjects, the average weight loss was 67 pounds, while the female participants lost an average of 47 pounds. In addition, most of the study participants enjoyed a dramatic decline in obesity-related health problems and symptoms.

Researchers Find Medifast to be a Helpful Tool for Patients with Type II Diabetes

Adult-onset diabetes is a common health problem faced by overweight and obese men and women. By losing weight, Type II diabetics can often reduce their need for medication and significantly improve their overall health and quality of life. However, successful weight loss is often particularly challenging for diabetics.

One recent study conducted the safety and effectiveness of Medifast as a tool for helping Type II diabetics lose weight. In the study, a population of diabetics was divided into two groups, one of which followed the Medifast plan and the other of which followed the standard ADA-recommended diet for diabetics.

Over the course of 34 weeks, the Medifast group experienced much greater weight loss success than their counterparts in the ADA diet group. The patients following the Medifast diet lost twice as much weight and were twice as likely to stick with the program as were their counterparts in the standard food diet. In addition, the Medifast group was able to decrease their use of diabetes medication by nearly 25%, a phenomenon that was not observed in the ADA-diet group.

Supervised Diet Plans Often Have Little Long-Term Success, Scientists Say

Although some dieters respond well to the highly regimented structure of the Medifast diets, some researchers question the long-term effectiveness of these types of plans. One study conducted by researchers at the University of Pennsylvania compared the short- and long-term effectiveness of ten different commercial, medically-supervised weight-loss systems, including Medifast.

The research found that these plans were often successful for short-term weight loss, but that participants often encountered difficulty keeping the weight off for extended periods of time after the conclusion of the diet. It was also found that the financial costs of these plans can add up quickly.

If you?re considering using the Medifast diet, talk to your physician to find out if this is the right weight loss approach for you. Please check back each week for more of the diet news you need!