Secret to weight loss isn't through fad diets or pills, study shows

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(CBS News) What's the best way to lose weight? A new study says it's a combination of more exercise, eating less fatty foods and joining a weight loss program. What doesn't work? Popular fad diets, liquid diets, and weight loss pills.

Contrary to popular belief, the new study in the April 10 online issue of the American Journal of Preventative Medicine showed not only that obese Americans can and do lose weight, but that using the tried and true methods of eating less fat and exercising more are most effective.

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Researchers analyzed data from more than 4,000 obese people over the age of 20 with a body mass index of 30 or more and then interviewed them one year later. Over half of them were trying to lose weight when the study began. By the end of the study, 40 percent said they lost at least 5 percent of their body weight, while 20 percent of participants lost 10 percent or more. Among the participants who shed pounds, they often reported working out and eating fewer fatty foods. Those who were in weight loss programs lost even greater amounts of weight.

"This is great news because studies have shown that even a 5 percent reduction in weight can lead to improved health," lead author Dr. Jacinda M. Nicklas, a clinical research fellow at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and Harvard Medical School said in a written statement. "With more than a third of Americans now obese and fifty to seventy percent of them trying to lose weight, this is important because the health risks associated with carrying that extra weight are substantial."

Obesity can lead to heart disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes and some kinds of cancer. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 35.7 percent of adults are obese. A recent study found that number might be an underestimate, with U.S. obesity rates closer to 60 percent of Americans, HealthPop reported. The southern U.S. has the highest obesity prevalence, followed by the Midwest, Northeast and West.

What didn't work? Those people who participated in popular diets, liquid diets nonprescription weight loss pills and diet foods/products didn't see the scale tip in the right direction.

"It's very encouraging to find that the most of the weight loss methods associated with success are accessible and inexpensive," senior author Dr. Christina Wee, co-director of research in the division of general medicine and primary care at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center,  said in the statement. "There are lots of fad diets out there as well as expensive over-the-counter medications that have not necessarily been proven to be effective, and it is important that Americans discuss product claims with their doctor before trying such products."

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Easiest diets to follow? U.S. News reveals 2012 rankings

[kianudepp]

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[kianudepp]

The thing to remember when choosing a diet is to choose one you can stay on for a longer term if you have more than a couple pounds to lose. Look for flavor, variety, and ease of food preparation. Make sure the diet has solid success stories from people like you.

http://www.dietbestplans.com/weight-loss/what-secret-of-weight-loss-celebrities-follows">celebrities weight loss hints

[amerilatino]

DUH? No $h*t, Sherlock. I DO know what is causing all the fad diet/patent remedy craze though. It's lazy, indolent, gluttonous Americans who whine and look for somebody to sue if they get a sore calf muscle because their SUV broke down and the had to walk to the bus stop.

[sher66]

Fad diets starving yourself stupid whatever will us ladies do I had almost given up to be honest with you then I done the 31 day diet and followed it to the letter and yes it worked no expensive foods to buy no ridiculous jumping about etc have a look yourself at www.feelgreataboutu.com

[dronemonk]

Want to lose weight? Eat less, exercise more. Everything else is nonsense. Personally, I think Americans would be a lot more attractive if they paid more attention to what comes out of their mouths, rather than what goes into them.

[ICDogg]

People who have never been obese have no clue as to what it takes to get out of that situation and stay thin once they do. If an obese person ate exactly what you eat every day, they would in most cases not lose any weight. And when people get that obese, exercise is considerably more difficult. Bodies break down.

I'm currently losing weight, 76.5 lbs down from my initial weight, kind of just crossing the line down to "overweight" from "obese", and I guarantee you that it had nothing to do with "eating less" or "exercising more".

[dronemonk]

Stop trying to make it magic. What? You believe that fat folks digest more efficiently, and thus have to eat even less than I, a fit and trim old man, would to lose weight? That's just not true. We all burn calories at the same basic rate. Eat less, exercise more. That is the key to effective dieting. Blaming metabolism is a crutch. Taking in fewer calories and burning more through activity is the real key to weight loss.

[joe1022joe]

Unless you are a person who responds negatively to dietary cholesterol, stay away from high carbohydrate diets. You will not lose weight on them. You'll do better on a higher fat, lower carb regimin

[ICDogg]

Yeah... I am now down 76.5 lbs. since Labor Day on what they probably would consider to be a "fad diet", without much exercise at all, and with very high fat/low carb balance. It leads me to wonder about the advice we are consistently getting.

[mrtrabajo45]

I believe proper weight loss is from exercise and proper diet. It is not from pills and these quick weight loss miracles. http://unlimitedonlinemoneymakers.com/

[gringojason]

There are no shortcuts. The fitness industry is a money-money model who's bottom line is revenue, not helping people get lasting results. I started a non-profit that provides a 100% free fitness and nutrition program because I am tired of everyone wasting their money of these empty promises, when the reality is, they can do it on their own with the right tools and support. No catch...we decided to take money out of the equation and build a community based on results. And...the results are incredible. No fad diets or pills, just people eating right and exercising. If you want to lose weight, check out our community. We are here to help. Jason. livefitrevolution.org

[Nate650]

Horrific study. More bad advice to eat less fat when fat per se doesn't make one fat. Fat from quality sources such as grass fed beef are good for you. These studies pay no attention to detail and make too many generalizations. Eating less fatty foods can also imply eating less processed foods, so you can't really just blame the fat as processed foods contain a whole lot more than just fat (such as preservatives, trans fat, HFCS, etc.).

[gadfly65]

Are you a shill for the beef industry?

[Nate650]

gadfly65, no, just an advocate of real food.