Very Low-Fat Diets for Weight Loss

Overview

Although there are many weight-loss diets, statistics show that most people who lose weight on a diet regain that weight, and sometimes they gain more. The best ways to stay healthy are eating well and being physically active.

Excess calories from meals, snacks, and drinks can lead to weight gain. Low-fat eating helps you lower the amount of calories you get from fats. Eating less fat is also part of a heart-healthy diet. It can help lower the risk of high cholesterol and heart disease.

You do need some fat in your diet for energy and to help absorb vitamins.

Low-fat programs such as the Life Choice Diet (Ornish) and Pritikin suggest only 10% of your daily calories come from fat. These very low-fat diets do not follow the MyPyramid guidelines for healthy eating.

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Author:	Debby Golonka, MPH	Last Updated: February 6, 2009
Medical Review:	Ruth Schneider, MPH, RD - Diet and Nutrition Rhonda O'Brien, MS, RD, CDE - Diabetes Educator
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