Optifast
Type of Diet:
Medically supervised low calorie formula
Cost 
Foods You Eat on this Diet
Optifast liquid shakes and supplements, some whole
foods
General Facts:
This program is designed
for obese patients (BMI over 30) and is available through doctors who
provide Optifast services.
Can you keep it off on this type of diet?
Optifast has published results in 600 patients who
have sustained weight loss of 5-10% of their body weight for up to five
years. Since average weight loss is 52 pounds, this means a lot of the
weight is re-gained, but some of the weight stays off.
Positives:
This low calorie diet is supervised by physicians, blood
work is done regularly and has a counseling program that involves
professional help from registered dietitians.
Drawbacks: This diet is a
low calorie formula diet and is not meant for people who are not
morbidly obese.
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Safety and Health Issues
There are always health risks in undergoing rapid
weight loss, especially for people with medical problems. The
risks vary, and the program should be monitored closely by a physician
for best results.
Diet Surf
Recommendations
Recommended as an option only for severely obese
people under medical supervision.
Dietitians comments about the Optifast Diet
Medical weight loss programs are designed for those
who really need them and are a more extreme approach to weight loss.
If you are considering a program like this, research the options
available to you, get feedback from your local dietitians and your own
physician and go to a physician who has offers a complete program and
extensive experience with such programs. If there is a medical
university in your area, call their endocrinology department to get a
referral for help.
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