Losing weight quickly ‘is the best way to achieve lasting results’

The best way of keeping weight off is to lose it quickly in the first place, according to a recent study.

Researchers at the University of Florida studied more than 250 overweight women who were encouraged to reduce their caloric intake and to do more exercise.

They found that those who lost weight quickly tended to shed more fat overall and kept it off for longer compared to those who lost weight gradually.

Dr Jacquie Lavin, head of nutrition and research at Slimming World, said that losing weight quickly can also boost a slimmer’s confidence.

“But, while speed of weight loss can be important, it isn’t nearly as important as making sure that lifestyle changes are sustainable and that means making them realistic enough to be kept up in the long term,” she warned.

Dr Lavin went on to suggest that making gradual changes to how things are cooked, what is shopped for and what is eaten will stop people from feeling deprived all of a sudden and is more effective in maintaining a healthy weight.

How long are you giving yourself to reach your target weight?