Many Americans and other people are extremely overweight. Recent studies have shown that more than half of Americans are overweight, with about a third of the United States classified as obese. Given this health crisis, many are turning to diet fads and other weight loss programs to lose extra pounds. Some turn to hypnosis, but does hypnosis work? Others trust more mainstream diets, like one of the most popular, the Slim Fast diet. But does slim fast work?
Slim Fast is a series of products that replace meals during the day. The most popular plan is the so-called “3-2-1 plan.” In this plan, the dieter eats three snacks of 100 calories a day (such as a Slim Fast snack bar), two meal replacements of 200 calories each (such as a Slim Fast meal replacement shake), and a “sensible dinner” of about 500 calories.
According to these numbers, the dieter who sticks to this plan would consume about 1200 calories a day. According to the “calories in, calories out” theory, if a person eats fewer calories then their body uses, they will lose fat. Because the average caloric requirement is around 2000 calories, the average Slim Fast dieter would lose 800 calories a day, translating into more than a pound a week. In theory, then, the diet should work.
But does it work in practice? Recent long-term studies have suggested in the affirmative. Dieters who used the Slim Fast plan lost more weight than those who did not during a set period of time. Those who used the diet long term weighed on average thirty pounds less than those who don’t. As long as a dieter sticks to the plan, they will lose weight, especially when coupled with regular, vigorous exercise. This is perhaps the most challenging aspect of the plan, however, as some people may get sick of eating Slim Fast bars and shakes everyday. Nevertheless, the Slim Fast diet does indeed work for those who are committed and focused on their goals.