In a report in the International Journal of Obesity, they note the focus of such programs may need to change if they're really going to have a lasting effect.
To test the potential impact of different diets, the researchers ran two computer simulations: One included a low-fat diet, the other a diet rich in whole grains and vegetables plus 180 minutes of exercise per week.
According to the models, people lost an average of 8 to 12 pounds on the diets and kept the weight off for an average of 6 months. But the pounds slowly crept back on, and after less than 6 years, the dieters were back where they started -- negating any improvement in health from the weight loss.
In addition, the researchers estimate that only about 3 percent of Australia's population would participate in weight-loss programs.
Diet Programs Disease Risk
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