General advice
Reducing total energy (caloric) intake should be the main component of any weight loss intervention. To implement a successful dietary intervention, we typically perform a brief 24-hour dietary recall during the office visit. We counsel patients on the importance of:
● Elimination of all caloric beverages, which are often the source of unwanted calories, and processed foods
● Portion control
● Self-monitoring
●Adopting a healthy, long-term approach to eating
TYPES OF DIETS
Conventional diets are defined as those with energy requirements above 800 kcal/day. These diets fall into the following groups:
● Balanced low-calorie diets and low-calorie versions of healthy diets (eg, Mediterranean and Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension [DASH] diets)
● Low-fat diets
● Low-carbohydrate and low glycemic index diets
● High-protein diets
● Very low-calorie diets