Adherence
Using portion-controlled frozen entrees as part of a low-calorie diet significantly enhances weight loss and fat mass reduction in overweight women compared to a self-selected diet based on USDA Food Guide Pyramid serving sizes, despite identical prescribed macronutrient composition and caloric targets.
If you struggle with estimating portion sizes or finding time to cook, using pre-portioned frozen entrees for two meals a day can significantly boost your weight loss results. This study shows that simply removing the guesswork and effort of meal preparation leads to greater fat loss than trying to follow standard dietary guidelines with self-selected foods, even when the calorie and nutrient targets are the same. Focus on convenience and accuracy to improve adherence and outcomes.
The portion-controlled group (n = 26) experienced greater decreases in weight (5.6 ± 2.2 kg or 6.5% vs. 3.6 ± 2.5 kg or 4.2%), fat mass (3.6 ± 1.8 vs. 2.3 ± 1.4 kg)... than the self-selected diet group (n = 27) (p < 0.05).
Why this rating
Randomized controlled trial with a reasonable sample size (N=60) and clear statistical significance, though short-term (8 weeks) and industry-funded.
Source
Use of Portion‐Controlled Entrees Enhances Weight Loss in Women
Sandra M. Hannum et al. · Obesity Research · 2004
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