Energy balance
Very-low-energy diets (VLED) provide greater short-term weight loss than moderately energy-restricted diets, but do not yield superior long-term weight loss or maintenance.
If you need rapid weight loss for medical reasons, a VLED (<800 kcal/day) works faster than standard diets. However, do not expect it to be easier to maintain long-term. You must pair it with behavioral counseling to prevent rapid weight regain, as the long-term results are no better than standard calorie restriction.
VLED lead to greater initial weight loss, but the long-term outcome seems to be no better than more moderate energy-restricted diets (Hensrud, 2004)... no trial has conclusively shown that the long-term VLED are better than non-VLED programmes (Mustajoki & Pekkarinen, 2001) because weight loss is rapidly regained.
Why this rating
The paper cites multiple controlled trials and meta-analyses comparing VLED to standard diets, consistently showing the same pattern of short-term gain/long-term parity.
Source
Different dietary strategies for weight loss in obesity: role of energy and macronutrient content
Itziar Abete et al. · Nutrition Research Reviews · 2006
DOI 10.1079/nrr2006112
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