Obesity, diets and weight loss methods of every kind are talked about in the media every day. Little wonder. It’s estimated that 34 million Americans are obese, meaning they weigh 20% more than their ideal weight.
Almost every overweight person has lost weight – or made an attempt to diet – at one time or another by investing in some combination of diet and exercise. In the 1970’s, high protein liquid diets became a short-lived fad. Currently, however, their popularity is on the rise, with some positive results. Liquid diet products have drastically improved in the last 30 years, with their complete protein, carbohydrate, fat, fiber, vitamin and mineral supplements.
There are medically sponsored and/or supervised weight loss programs, as well as over-the-counter high protein liquid diet products. Optifast, Medifast, and HMR are among the most popular supervised diet programs, which usually also include education and group support. New Life, Atkins, and Slim Fast are among the companies that provide popular over-the-counter or mail order high protein products. There is also at least one very inexpensive on-line interactive support group and message board that has proven very helpful to those who are using a high protein liquid diet, either on their own or in a supervised program.
How does a liquid diet work? What makes it successful? What’s the advantage over other diets?
Some doctors prescribe high protein liquid diets for their patients unable to digest solid foods, but the vast majority of liquid dieters are drinking their meals every day solely to lose weight. Most doctor-supervised high protein liquid dieters are consuming 400-800 calories a day. Those on a liquid diet without doctor supervision are generally encouraged to opt for a higher caloric intake of at least 1000 calories a day. To begin with, their “meals” consist only of a high protein shake that’s also high in fiber. Most also take a high quality multi-vitamin each day.
One reason these diets work, at least in the short run, is because there are no food choices to be made. In essence, the liquid dieter is completely removed from a food environment as far as having to “stress” over eating goes. For the most part, the shakes have improved in taste, and they are much more convenient than preparing a meal. They also give a morbidly obese person a rapid jump start to weight loss, which can be helpful motivation to “keep going.
The most successful programs and individual dieters are those who combine their weight loss “food plan” with a behavior modification and exercise plan. Typically, a program will limit the use of the high protein all liquid diet to a few weeks or months, and then begin a plan of healthy food reintegration, along with an exercise plan, if one has not already been implemented. The number of calories is increased, but still relatively low – perhaps 1,000 to 1,200 per day. When the dieter reaches their desired weight, a maintenance plan is put in place, where the dieter is eating and making healthy choices on their own.
As with any plan to lose weight, studies have repeatedly found that losing weight and keeping it off will seldom happen without long-term changes in food choices, exercise, and behavioral modification to help some address addictive and unhealthy behaviors, poor habits, etc. When combined with medical supervision, group support, education, and behavioral modification, high protein liquid diets are something to consider if all else has failed.
