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Since we have been discussing the ranking of various paleodiet some of you might find this of interest.

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Published May  11, 2005
http://www.freep.com/news/health/diet11e_20050511.htm

Consumer Reports sizes up diet plans

BY J.M. HIRSCH
ASSOCIATED PRESS



Meetings and shakes trump counting carbs when it comes to long-term weight loss, according to a recent analysis of diets by Consumer Reports magazine.



The publication, best known for rating cars and electronics, put Weight Watchers, with its support group meetings, and Slim-Fast, whose shakes let you opt out of cooking, at the top of the heap.



The ratings were based on pounds lost, nutrition, how easy the diet was to follow and dropout rates after six months and a year.



Though low-carb diets have dominated headlines, the highest marks went to Weight Watchers, which uses weekly meetings to reinforce its simple philosophy -- eat less and exercise more. After a year, its followers were far more likely to stick with the plan, the analysis found.



Weight Watchers did not, however, earn the strongest scores on weight loss, a distinction that went to second-ranked Slim-Fast, which replaces parts of two meals a day with shakes and bars.



The Atkins diet, which has led the low-carb charge, got good scores for short-term weight loss, but landed at the bottom of the ratings because of poor marks on retention and nutrition.



The report, included in the magazine's June issue, said the Atkins diet calls for too much fat and saturated fat, too few fruits and too little fiber. It also said the diet "might have a negative effect on some dieters' health."



The magazine's conclusions are based on a review of published clinical research on each diet and a nutrient and calorie analysis of a week's worth of menus.



All of the diets reviewed are low enough in calories to produce results, but success relies on sticking to the plan, said Nancy Metcalf, a senior editor at Consumer Reports.



Slim-Fast was praised for its ease and balanced nutrition. Its retention matched Weight Watchers' during the first six months, but then dropped considerably.



The high-protein Zone diet, from a book by Dr. Barry Sears, was the magazine's No. 3 program. Though its followers tended to drop out over time, the diet earned points for having considerably less fat than the Atkins approach.



The fourth-ranked ultra-low-fat, high-fiber vegetarian Ornish diet, from Dr. Dean Ornish, had the worst retention rate, though it had good long-term weight loss.



Four other programs, Internet-based eDiets, Jenny Craig, South Beach and Volumetrics, were included in the review but not ranked because not enough independent clinical studies had been done on them, the magazine said.

Copyright © 2005 Detroit Free Press Inc.