Dietary and lifestyle measures to enhance satiety and weight control

Abstract

A healthy rate of weight loss of 0.5–1.0 kg/week can be achieved by invoking an energy deficit of 450–900 kcal/day. This assumes an energy cost of weight loss of 6300 kcal/kg. This value will increase with percent body fat. Diet and physical activity strategies should be combined to lose weight. However, dietary approaches to weight management appear most efficacious for initial weight loss. Energy density should be the cornerstone of dietary weight reduction strategies because it helps people develop and optimise healthy eating habits that are sustainable in the longer-term. However, healthy diets for weight management should be seen as a package including reduced fat, energy density, sugars and salt, increased fibre, protein and water content of foods. Healthy diets also have to be palatable, to maintain interest in healthy eating. Monotherapies for weight loss are subject to the laws of diminishing returns. Practical approaches to weight management should be focused on a package of weight loss and maintenance strategies, including relapse prevention. It is important to provide consumers with a flexible approach to behaviour change and lifestyle solutions that they can match to their individual lifestyle needs. Evidence from studies of successful weight-loss maintainers shows that people can work this out for themselves if they can access the right tools, continuing care, guidance and social support to achieve sustainable lifestyle change.