Going on a diet is unlikely to lead to long-term weight loss, according to a new study.

Researchers in California found people typically lose between five and 10% of their starting weight during the first six months of a diet. But the study found between a third and two-thirds of people who went on diets regained more weight than they had lost, within four or five years.

The study was carried out by researchers at UCLA, California’s biggest university. The report found that the majority of people regained all the weight, plus more. Sustained weight loss was found in only a small minority of participants, while complete loss regain was found in the majority. Diets do not lead to sustained weight loss or health benefits for the majority of people.

Researchers analysed 31 long-term studies that followed participants for two to five years. They concluded that most of them would have been better off not going on the diet at all. Their weight would have been pretty much the same, and their bodies would not suffer the wear and tear of losing weight and gaining it all back.

This entry was posted on Friday, June 1st, 2007 at 4:15 pm and is filed under In the News, Weight Loss. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.