It's easy to be confused by all this conflicting advice. Doctors at UT Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas say the best approach is one of balance and moderation, not eating only certain foods. When you follow one of the fad diets with strict requirements of foods to eat and foods to avoid, you're less likely to stick to your diet because you'll get bored from lack of variety and have difficulty following the formula faithfully. You're also less likely to keep the weight off when you go off the diet because you haven't really modified your behavior patterns. And you may suffer nutritionally without a good mix of foods in your diet.
Calories are calories, no matter what kind of food they come from.
To lose weight, eat fewer calories than your body needs. Foods like fruits, vegetables and whole grains are less dense in calories than fats and proteins are, so you can eat more while taking in fewer calories. Just eat a little from all the food groups to lose weight while maintaining balance. Other Topics Health Watch is intended to provide general information only and should not replace the advice of a medical professional. You should contact your physician if you have questions about any of these topics.