Effectiveness of Four Popular Diet Strategies for Weight Loss and Cardiac Risk Reduction
Effectiveness of Four Popular Diet Strategies for Weight Loss and Cardiac Risk Reduction
A single-center randomized trial at an academic medical center in Boston, Mass, of overweight
 or obese adults with known hypertension, dyslipidemia, or fasting hyperglycemia. Participants
 were enrolled starting July 18, 2000, and randomized to 4 popular diet groups until January
 24, 2002.
Objective: To assess adherence rates and the effectiveness of 4 popular diets (Atkins, Zone,
 Weight Watchers, and Ornish) for weight loss and cardiac risk factor reduction.

 Design, Setting, and Participants: A single-center randomized trial at an academic medical
 center in Boston, Mass, of overweight or obese adults with known hypertension, dyslipidemia,
 or fasting hyperglycemia. Participants were enrolled starting July 18, 2000, and randomized
 to 4 popular diet groups until January 24, 2002.

 Intervention: A total of 160 participants were randomly assigned to either Atkins
 (carbohydrate restriction, n=40), Zone (macronutrient balance, n=40), Weight Watchers
 (calorie restriction, n=40), or Ornish (fat restriction, n=40) diet groups. After 2 months of
 maximum effort, participants selected their own levels of dietary adherence.

 Main Outcome Measures: One-year changes in baseline weight and cardiac risk factors, and
 self-selected dietary adherence rates per self-report. Outcome measures included body weight,
 total cholesterol, LDL-C, HDL-C, triglycerides, hsCRP, insulin, glucose.
Inclusion Criteria:

 -  BMI 27-42;

 -  At least one metabolic cardiac risk factor

 Exclusion Criteria:

 -  Age under 18 years;

 -  Insulin therapy;

 -  Unstable chronic illness;

 -  Unwilling to follow dietary advice