Very Low Calorie Diet
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Very Low Calorie Diet (VLCD), as the name implies, is a diet with very or extremely low calories per day. It is defined medically as a diet of 800 kilocalories per day or less. VLCDs are formulated, nutritionally complete, liquid meals containing 3350 kJ (800 kcal) or less per day. VLCDs also contain the recommended daily requirements for vitamins, minerals, trace elements, fatty acids and protein. The VLCD products are usually a powder which is mixed with water, juice or other liquid.
A VLCD diet is aimed primarily for severely or morbidly obese adults who must lose significant amounts of weight quickly, in order to live. It is also for those individuals who wish to lose some of their weight as rapidly as possible in a safe manner. Because of the extremely low calories per day, a VLCD diet cannot be used by children no matter how obese. The average weight loss on the VLCD program is in the range of 3 to 5 pounds per week, but it is to be remembered that at first you only lose excess liquid from your body.
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[edit] Health benefits
A 1997 study concludes that the short-term use of a VLCD is very effective in rapidly improving glycaemic control and promoting substantial weight loss in obese patients with Type 2 diabetes. Moreover, a VLCD increases insulin sensitivity and reduces the substrate for gluconeogenesis. Thus VLCD treatment may improve glycaemic control more than calorie restriction alone.<ref>VLCD in the treatment of obese patients with Type 2 diabetes: does it make sense?</ref>
[edit] Adverse effects
The risk of gallbladder disease is greatly increased for individuals following a VLCD. <ref>[1]</ref>
[edit] See also
[edit] References
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