Breakthrough study finds rapid weight-loss more effective than 'healthy' approach

Australian researchers have made the controversial claim that rapid weight-loss is more effective long-term than the "slow and steady" approach.

Published today in international medical journal The Lancet, the study by Austin Health in Melbourne found that losing a minimum of 1.5kg per week was more effective than the 0.5kg per week touted as the "healthy" approach.

The trial included 200 obese adults who were randomly assigned to either a 12-week, very low calorie diet, or a 36-week programme based on current dietary recommendations.

The current guidelines follow the widely-held belief that weight lost too fast is put back on more quickly.

However the Austin Health study found an obese person is more likely to achieve their weight-loss target, and less likely to drop out of their program, if it is done quickly.

The research team believes possible explanations for the results are that limited carbohydrate intake with very-low-calorie diets provides greater satisfaction, and less food consumption by creating the production of hunger suppressants.

Another possible explanation is that rapid weight loss motivates participants to stick to their new diet.