Randomised controlled trial of novel, simple, and well supervised weight reducing diets in outpatients.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the contribution of novelty and simplicity to compliance with a low energy diet among obese outpatients.


METHODS
Three arm randomised trial for 16 weeks.


METHODS
NHS hospital obesity clinic.


METHODS
45 patients aged over 17 years with a body mass index >27 who were not diabetic, pregnant, or lactating.


METHODS
Conventional 3.4 MJ diet (control), isoenergetic novel diet of milk only, or milk plus one designated food daily. Follow up visit every 4 weeks.


METHODS
Weight loss.


RESULTS
Mean weight loss (kg) after 16 weeks on control, milk only, and milk plus diets was 1.7 (95% confidence interval 0.3 to 3.7), 9.4 (5.9 to 12.9), and 7.0 (2.7 to 11.3) respectively. Weight loss on the novel diets was significantly greater than on the control diet.


CONCLUSIONS
Dietary treatment can achieve as much weight loss in obese outpatients over 16 weeks as has been reported for the most successful drug treatment, but compliance with the prescribed diet is poor unless the diet is novel and simple.
Summerbell
C D
CD
Rank Department of Human Nutrition, St Bartholomew's Hospital Medical College, London EC1M 6BQ, UK. carolyn.summerbell@tees.ac.uk
Watts
C
C
Higgins
J P
JP
Garrow
J S
JS
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000553:Ambulatory Care / Q000379:methods; D004038:Diet, Reducing; D002149:Energy Intake; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000178:diet therapy*; D010045:Outpatients; D010349:Patient Compliance; D015431:Weight Loss