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Science Explains How Long You Have To Go On A Diet To Lose Weight (And Maintain It)

Science Explains How Long You Have To Go On A Diet To Lose Weight (And Maintain It)

Diet and weight gain are major concerns for many of us, and their importance remains unchanged regardless of age or gender. Indeed, foods rich in fat and sugar abound on every street corner and on every display, wherever we are. So, losing weight is sometimes a lost cause. However, this objective is far from being inaccessible, as long as we understand the proper course of action. To help you, this article unveils the scientists' recommendations as to the exact length of time needed to complete a diet.

In order to motivate you to lose your extra pounds, it is imperative to equip yourself with discipline, patience and self-control. The goal is that you can achieve your goals in a healthy way and above all, that they lead you to a better lifestyle in the long term to avoid the yo-yo effect so feared.

What the research says about weight loss diets

Weight loss is largely about believing that you are capable of it and being aware that weight loss will not happen overnight.

In 2016, the University of Copenhagen published a study in the European Journal of Endocrinology about obesity and weight loss.

The study gathered a sample of 20 people suffering from obesity. In order to lose weight, the latter followed a low calorie diet for eight weeks. Following this, the participants had to follow a second diet for a whole year in order to stabilize their efforts. In order to achieve optimal results, nutritionists visited them regularly to provide advice and take stock of their progress.

On three occasions during the study, the researchers took blood samples from the participants. The first at the beginning of the study, the second during the diet phase, and the third after the maintenance phase of the weight. This researchers' initiative aimed to examine the level of hormones responsible for hunger in subjects, who would be largely responsible for the failure of some diets. Indeed, the more the body undergoes a restrictive diet, the more it will use the means at its disposal to make you eat more or to fight weight loss, including increasing its ghrelin (hormone stimulating hunger).

The results were surprising. Indeed, scientists found that at the end of their experience, ghrelin levels were lower than during the restrictive diet period. This finding meant that the body had adapted to its new weight and that it was now possible to maintain the latter without having to undergo metabolic defense mechanisms.

This study was able to make an extremely important new discovery. Monitoring a 2-month diet with a one-year stabilization phase would be a reliable way to help the body reduce cravings and adjust to new weight and eating habits.

But which diet to follow?

A priori, all diets are based on a lower calorie intake to promote weight loss. However, there are a variety of diets, each with unique characteristics and characteristics. Here are 2 examples to help you achieve your weight loss goals.

1- The Pegan Diet

This diet is a fusion between the vegan diet (Vegan) that is plant-based and the Paleolithic diet that involves food that our ancestors Homo-sapiens consumed before the advent of agriculture, namely animal meat, fruits and berries, hence the origin of the word "Pegan".

Thus, this diet provides all the antioxidants, fiber and healthy fats that you expect from a vegan diet, along with the benefits of the proteins contained in the meat. This balance with low carbohydrate foods helps to lose weight while having the nutrients necessary for good overall health.

2- The Mediterranean diet

The Mediterranean diet is so called because it incorporates healthy habits of the countries bordering the Mediterranean. It comes at the top of the list of diets recommended by western medicine.

This diet includes the consumption of many vegetables, olive oil, fatty fish and nuts, without any caloric restriction. Combine that with sugar reduction, which was traditionally a rarity in the Mediterranean region, and you have the basis of the Mediterranean diet.

According to a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials conducted in 2011, the results showed that the Mediterranean diet was effective for weight loss, especially when the diet was associated with energy restriction and physical activity. The results also indicated that the Mediterranean diet reduces LDL (bad) cholesterol more effectively than diets low in fat and carbohydrates.

It is important to keep in mind that any healthy diet to lose weight must be balanced and varied, while practicing regular physical activity and drinking sufficient amounts of water.
Science Explains How Long You Have To Go On A Diet To Lose Weight (And Maintain It)