what is the best diet

Our FITPRO Coaches regularly attend fitness related conferences and one of the conference workshop was entitled, “What is the best diet?” by Krista Scott-Dixon, Phd. We give you a summary of this interesting topic. We hope that this article will clear some of your concerns about choosing a sensible diet. Some technical details are included.

“I’d love to eat healthy, but it’s too restrictive for me. I enjoy food too much.”

This question assumes that there is only ONE “best” way to eat. And once we find that, we think it is magic!

Here are some studies done by JAMA* to debunk that there is some magic diet.

• The macronutrients don’t matter. (Macronutrients are your carbohydrates, Protein and Fats)

Numerous trials comparing diets differing in macronutrient composition have demonstrated very small and inconsistent differences in weight loss and metabolic risk factors.

• Adherence is the only thing that matters.

In 2014 a scientific article was published summarizing between 13 and 24 major trials.

Adherence is the only consistent factor associated with weight loss and disease-related outcomes.

• 2014 report** shows that

Low-carb dieters:

6 months: 8.73 kg lost
12 months: 7.25 kg lost

Low-fat dieters
6 months: 7.99 kg lost
12 months: 7.27 kg lost

Weight loss differences between individual named diets were small. This supports the practice of recommending any diet that a patient will adhere to in order to lose weight.

In other words…

You can get good results from many diets.

So what’s the best diet? The one you’ll actually stick to.

There are many diets and many ways to eat. Humans are amazingly adaptable to varied food conditions.

When it comes to conditions, it is not just about food. Which category to you belong to?

1. “I’m still a student, living in a dorm on a budget.”
2. “ I’ve got money but no time and I don’t like to cook.”
3. “I need to make weight safely for athletic competition.”
4. “I am really concerned about the wellness and health of this planet.”

Other factors that will influence your food choices are:

• Physiological differences
• Personal differences
• Cultural / social differences
• Environmental differences
• Global differences

So what can we conclude from here? THERE IS NO ONE SIZE FITS ALL!

Diet debates only benefit the diet industry. Diet debates do not help you make sound choice.

People are still wondering, “What should I eat for dinner?” STOP debating diets.

Instead, START understanding what really makes you feel fitter, leaner, stronger, healthier and saner for life!

Contact our FITPRO Academy Nutritionist for professional consultation on the type of diet that will suit your lifestyle.

_{* JAMA: The Journal of the American Medical Association is a peer-reviewed medical journal published 48 times a year by the American Medical Association. It publishes original research, reviews, and editorials covering all aspects of the biomedical sciences.}

_{** Johnston, Bradley C., et al. Comparison of weight loss among named diet}

_{programs in overweight and obese adults: A meta-analysis. Journal of the}

_{American Medical Association 312 no.9 (September 2014): 923-933.}