A study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition last year (1) found that weight loss diets that focus on the amount of food consumed and the proportions of proteins, fats and carbohydrates (the so called macronutrients) might be lacking in essential minerals and vitamins.   The study researchers wanted to look at the intakes of vitamins and minerals (the micronutrients) of 4 popular diets being undertaken by overweight or obese women. They note in their study that information on the micronutrient quality of weight loss diets is very limited and this is worrying considering the importance that vitamins and minerals have for health. Dietary data was collected from women following the Atkins diet, the Zone diet, LEARN (Lifestyle, Exercise, Attitudes, Relationships, Nutrition), and the Ornish diet. There were about 70 women following each diet plan for 8 weeks. After 8 weeks there were significant differences observed between groups for all macronutrients and for many micronutrients. Energy (calorie) intakes had been reduced in all 4 groups (to a similar level in all groups). However, the un-healthful result was that after 8 weeks a significant proportion of individuals in all groups had micronutrient (vitamin and mineral) intakes associated with risk of inadequacy: *In the Atkins group for thiamine, folic acid, vitamin C, iron, and magnesium *In the LEARN group for vitamin E, thiamine, and magnesium *In the Ornish group for vitamins E and B-12 and zinc *In the Zone group for vitamins A, E, K, and C   The authors….

“Eat less and exercise more” is a weight-loss statement that I detest.  It makes individuals feel as though their weight loss journey should be simple and easy.  As a registered nutritionist it also makes me angry since it doesn’t address the importance of the quality of food being eaten, it only mentions quantity.  We need to aim to be ‘healthy at every weight’, healthy throughout a weight loss journey and healthy in order to maintain any weight loss.   A recently published study (1,2) looked at how changes in multiple dietary and lifestyle factors impacted long-term weight gain.  The research took place in the USA at the Harvard School of Public Health and was published in the New England Journal of Medicine.  Scientists found that changes in specific foods, drinks, physical activity, TV-viewing and sleep duration were strongly linked to long-term weight gain, with changes in diet having the strongest associations.   The research is important because in the past much of the focus has been on methods for weight loss after overweight and obesity have developed, this paper looked at specific factors that lead to long-term weight gain.  Looking at the results can help us to make changes now to potentially prevent overweight and obesity.   Dariush Mozaffarian, the lead author of the study said in a press release (2)“An average adult gains about one pound per year. Because the weight gain is so gradual and occurs over many years, it has been difficult for scientists and for individuals….