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Islets of Hope for persons with diabetes |
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Diabetes, Diets and Weight Loss Mini Site Index About VLCDs and successful weight loss There are many ways to lose weight but there is no such thing as "one-diet'-fits-all." This is especially true in the case of a "Very Low-Calorie Diet" (VLCD) -- they are not for everyone. Obesity carries many serious health risks including high blood pressure and heart disease. For those not diagnosed with diabetes, obesity also has an increased risk for developing type 2 diabetes, even for children. For those already diagnosed with diabetes obesity increases the risk of long-term diabetes complications. Weight loss plans include low-fat, low-carbohydrate diets, low-glycemic index diets, commercial center-based weight loss, and meal plans consisting of low-calorie diets from 800 to 1,500 calories a day -- all weight loss plans should also include a focus on getting regular physical activity, nutritional counseling, behavioral modification and learning coping skills to deal with food and food issues. For those who are moderately to extremely obese another plan that may be considered is the very low-calorie diet. What is a very low calorie diet? (VLCD) VLCDs generally include about a maximum of 800 calories per day, and consist of commercially prepared formulas to ensure a proper balance of nutrients that would otherwise come in the form of solid food. Over-the-counter products (Slim Fast, etc.) are intended to simply replace one or two meals per day and are not intended for use in VLCDs. Strict compliance to the diet is necessary, and difficult for many. Some VLCD plans now use 800-1000 calories per day which may help people adhere to them better, thus, offering a greater chance of success. VLCDs should only be used under the recommendation and careful supervision of a medical professional and should not be used as a method of weight loss independent of professional care. VLCDs do not teach proper eating skills that anyone who desires to lose weight and keep it off must learn. They are intended for short-term weight loss, usually when there will be some medical benefit to rapid weight loss. However, as part of an overall weight reduction plan, at some point in the VLCD, patients will receive instruction and support for behavioral modification, nutrition counseling, physical activity, and/or drug treatment. Who might benefit from a VLCD? VLCDs are intended for those moderately to severely (morbidly) obese, specifically for those with a body mass index (BMI) greater than 30. (See side bar for BMI counters.) Sometimes, VLCDs may be used in people with a BMI of 27-30, but usually only when there is some medical benefit or urgency that outweighs the medical risks associated with VLCDs. Who should not use a VLCD?
Use of VLCDs in patients with a BMI of 27 to 30 should be reserved for those who have medical complications resulting from their overweight. VLCDs are not recommended for pregnant or breastfeeding women. VLCDs are not appropriate for children or adolescents, except in specialized treatment programs. How much, and how fast is weight lost on VLCDs? Although the rate and amount of loss on VLCDs varies from person-to-person, typically, those who are morbidly obese will lose about 3-5 lbs per week, averaging 44 lbs over 12 weeks. VLCDs are not intended for long-term dieting. Such rapid weight loss often improves symptoms and concerns of medical problems including diabetes, high blood pressure and, poor lipid profile (high cholesterol and triglycerides). These conditions are tied directly to obesity, and therefore, weight reduction can help control certain medical conditions. However, VLCDs can also create other health problems and risks. Side effects of VLCDs include:
Most side effects are experienced only temporarily and not all will experience side effects of weight loss other than to feel better. However, gallstones are a concern of VLCDs that needs to be discussed further. Gallstones. The formation of gallstones can occur as a result of VLCDing as well as in people who follow strict, ketogenic low-carbohydrate diets. Gallstones are more commonly a side effect for women than for men, and simply being obese places a person at higher risk for developing gallstones. Rapid weight loss increases cholesterol levels in the gallbladder which diminishes the body's ability to contract and expel bile. This can cause painful gallstones to form (report any shoulder, chest, or abdomen pain to your doctor immediately). Maintaining Weight Loss No weight-loss plan can be successful if it does not teach healthy nutritional habits and exercise changes that a person can follow for life. Losing weight is one thing, keeping it off is another. Weight regain is very common on VLCDs but this would be true for any "diet" that a person cannot follow for a lifetime. For this reason, it is important that VLCDs only be part of an overall plan to help a person manage their weight. In the long term, studies show that, VLCDs are no more effective than more modest dietary restrictions and the key to any successful plan lies in patient motivation, and ongoing support for weight maintenance once a goal is reached. According to Lahle Wolfe, founder of Islets of Hope, who was once morbidly obese and lost and kept off over 135 pounds, "the key to successful weight loss is not making extreme adjustments so that you feel like you are working for the diet. You need to find a plan, a way of eating and dealing with food that works for you. Getting to your goal is not nearly as challenging as staying there. You have to find a way of eating that you can live with a lot longer than beyond the weight-loss phase." |
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Free BMI Calculator Links Better Ideal Weight Body. This site is fun and will have you laughing all the way to the scale (or crying). The site features multiple body mass (BMI) calculators side by side so you can see what the medical community, Met Life Insurance and the general public think you should weigh. The site is sort of campy, (no offense) but worth a click. If offers good body mass index calculators as well as weight charts and information about how "ideal" weights are calculated. Department of Health and Human Services - Basic, straightforward body mass index (BMI) calculator. Information Links for VLCDs Weight Loss: Dieting and
Gallstones Active at Any
Size Healthy Eating and
Physical Activity Across Your Lifespan: Better Health and You Weight-control Information Network" 1 Win Way The Weight-control Information Network (WIN) is a service of the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases of the National Institutes of Health, which is the Department of Health and Human Services' lead agency responsible for biomedical research on nutrition and obesity. Authorized by Congress (Public Law 103-43), WIN provides the general public, health professionals, the media, and Congress with up-to-date, science-based health information on weight control, obesity, physical activity, and related nutritional issues. WIN answers inquiries, develops and distributes publications, and works closely with professional and patient organizations and Government agencies to coordinate resources about weight control and related issues. |
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| Contact Us | About IOH | Our Mission | Elizabeth's Story | About the Founder | Join IOH | How To Help | Advertise | Privacy Statement | Site Index | Page Updated 05/29/2006 |
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