"Never Argue about...

politics and religion at the dinner table." Or so our grandparents used to say. They might have added that it is safer to argue about either than it is to argue about diet. Ignoring all of this advice, I need to point out that the latest issue of Consumer Reports rates 11 different diets for 1) nutrition; 2) weight loss; and 3) dropout rate. Weight watchers comes out on top. Slim Fast gets better weight loss but has a high dropout rate. Ornish and Atkins are "losers" in the ratings. South Beach phase one is below average in nutrition; phase two is above average. Consumer reports found insufficient data for other two factors. I refrain from telliing certain relatives and friends that "I told you so."

Comments

[Herb Ely]

I can add, that there a couple of reasons for Weight Watchers' success. 1) by going to meetings, one admits help is needed. 2) the meetings include education about dieting behaviors and emotional support. I lost 40 lbs with WW and have maintained the loss for 4 years. Still have another 15 to go.