Research

Energy balance

Fast weight loss achieved via severe energy restriction (65-75% deficit) using very low energy diet (VLED) products supplemented with whey protein isolate can safely preserve fat-free mass and induce ketosis without compromising micronutrient intake, provided protein intake is matched to body weight (1 g/kg).

To lose weight quickly and safely, aim for a severe calorie deficit (65-75% of your maintenance calories) using a structured Very Low Energy Diet (VLED) like meal replacement shakes. Crucially, add a plain whey protein powder to ensure you get 1 gram of protein per kilogram of your body weight daily, and keep carbs under 100g to induce ketosis, which helps control hunger. Adjust your shake count every 4 weeks as you lose weight to keep protein intake proportional to your new body weight.

ModerateSupportsMEDIUM confidence
We aimed to achieve severe energy restriction and moderate energy restriction in the fast and slow weight loss groups, respectively... We defined severe energy restriction as a minimum of 65% restriction relative to EEE... In choosing the absolute protein target... a target protein intake of 1 g per kg was chosen... Ketosis is a metabolic state... thought to be a key factor in helping to prevent a compensatory increase in the drive to eat with severely restricted energy intake.
A. Gibson et al. · Obesity Science & Practice · 2016

Why this rating

This is a protocol/rationale paper describing the design of a trial, not the results of the trial itself; evidence is based on modeling and existing literature citations.

Source

Fast versus slow weight loss: development process and rationale behind the dietary interventions for the TEMPO Diet Trial

A. Gibson et al. · Obesity Science & Practice · 2016

DOI 10.1002/osp4.48

clinical_guidelineCited 22×
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DOI resolved against Crossref · corpus check 2026-06-10

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