Research

Energy balance

Adhering to a low energy-dense (LED) diet significantly reduces total daily energy intake and improves appetite control (increased fullness, reduced hunger/cravings) in overweight and obese women, leading to greater weight loss compared to standard calorie-restriction programs.

To lose weight effectively, focus on eating foods with low energy density (high volume, low calories, like vegetables, fruits, lean proteins) rather than just counting calories. This approach allows you to eat until you are full, reduces hunger and cravings, and makes sticking to your diet easier and more enjoyable than strict calorie restriction.

GoodSupportsHIGH confidence
LED meals increased sensations of fullness and reduced hunger on probe days (P < 0.001). Total-day EI was 1057 ± 73 kcal less (95% CI: 912, 1203 kcal; 36%) under LED compared with HED conditions (P < .001)... The SW group lost more weight than the SC group [ITT: −5.9% ... compared with −3.5% ... P < 0.05].
Nicola Buckland et al. · Journal of Nutrition · 2018

Why this rating

Randomized controlled trial design with a reasonable sample size (n=96) and clear statistical significance, though not double-blinded.

Source

A Low Energy–Dense Diet in the Context of a Weight-Management Program Affects Appetite Control in Overweight and Obese Women

Nicola Buckland et al. · Journal of Nutrition · 2018

DOI 10.1093/jn/nxy041

crossover · n=96Cited 37×
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DOI resolved against Crossref · corpus check 2026-06-10

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