A healthy diet in the long term ‘vital for safe weight loss’

People keen to lose weight and keep it off have been advised that they need to follow a healthy dietary regime that can be maintained over the long term.

Alison Wetton, All About Weight's founder and chief executive officer, explained that it is ok to follow a nutritionally adequate diet in order to kick-start weight loss, but it is important to think about a lifestyle and diet "you can realistically continue permanently".

She further advised that it is vital people ensure their diet provides less energy than is required to maintain their current weight and also that it contains essential fats, adequate protein, minerals and vitamins.

Ms Wetton went on to add that body weight is not permanent and if dieters return to bad habits they will put on whatever they lost – and even sometimes more.

According to research released this month by The Co-operative Pharmacy, one in ten would opt to starve themselves to shed the pounds, with one in 20 considering bariatric surgery to attain their weight loss goals.

Is your diet sensible enough?