Plate aids diabetes weight loss

obmar · Site Admin Joined: 14 Apr 2006 Posts: 5697

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/6238740.stm

Plate aids diabetes weight loss
Diet plate
The plates measure out healthy portions
Using a simple portion control dinner plate can help people with type 2 diabetes lose weight and decrease reliance on medication, research shows.

Canadian researchers put people with type 2 diabetes on a calorie-controlled diet for six months.

They found 17% of those who used a calibrated diet plate lost more than 5% of their body weight, compared with just 4.5% who did not.

The study appears in the journal Archives of Internal Medicine.

In the majority of cases type 2 diabetes is linked to carrying excess weight - 80% of people are overweight at diagnosis, and doctors recognise that weight loss can greatly improve the condition.

However, many people with diabetes find it hard to stick to a weight loss regime.

The researchers tested the effect of using a calibrated dinner plate and breakfast bowl that helps people to eat healthy sized portions.

On average those who used the diet plates lost 1.75% of their body weight, compared with just 0.05% in the group who had to rely on will power alone.

As a result, they were also much more likely to be able to decrease their reliance on diabetes-controlling medication, including shots of insulin.

As good as drugs

Lead researcher Dr Sue Pederson said the results were comparable to those achieved by taking expensive weight loss drugs.

She said: "The weight loss results are all the more impressive considering that diabetics in general do not respond well to weight loss programmes."

Dr Ian Campbell, medical director of the charity Weight Concern, said: "Losing weight is never easy and even harder for diabetics.

"To achieve these results over a six month period is excellent and with no more side effects than an occasional decrease in blood glucose, easily corrected by a reduction in medication, is very impressive indeed."

Tracy Kelly, of the charity Diabetes UK, said eating a healthy balanced diet and taking regular physical activity were the best ways of controlling weight and effectively managing diabetes.

"Cutting down on portion sizes and eating balanced meals will help people control their weight, therefore some people may find this plate useful.

"However, controlling weight can be achieved effectively without spending extra money.

"A healthy balanced diet should be based on carbohydrates and be low in fat, sugar and salt with plenty of fruit and vegetables."

DIET PLATE SYSTEM
Provides measured, sectioned or calibrated areas for the various types of food, such as protein, starchy carbohydrates, vegetables, dairy and fat
Once the meal is measured, it is moved to one side of the plate and then the remaining space is filled with fresh salad or vegetables

obmar · Site Admin Joined: 14 Apr 2006 Posts: 5697

http://www.thedietplate.com/

The Inquisitor · Joined: 17 Jun 2006 Posts: 772

Slightly unrelated,

I following the "AT" diet. It's kinda like the "Atkins" diet, but without the "kins." In other words, I made it up.

I avoid carbs to the max, but I moderate my meat intake (for an American at least) and I eat more lettuce than an average rabbit. I have a few cousins who are diabetic, though I don't know which type. I'll ask them if they've heard of this.

Thanks, obmar.

obmar · Site Admin Joined: 14 Apr 2006 Posts: 5697

I saw my daughter reading that recently, ATKIN and had recommended me a regime, so that I could lose some weight. And since ramaddan fasting will be coming at the corner, I am confident that I could win.

By the way, superblycrafted is my eldest, and I opened this subforum for her to moderate.

The Inquisitor · Joined: 17 Jun 2006 Posts: 772

Welcome, sc.

Glad to see you here.

When you do atkins, you have to adhere to it rather strictly. Going back to a regular diet makes you gain even more weight.

obmar · Site Admin Joined: 14 Apr 2006 Posts: 5697

My weight starts to change
when I stopped smoking in 1993

and it was drastic

The Inquisitor · Joined: 17 Jun 2006 Posts: 772

Mine too, obmar.

I stopped in 1989 and immediately grew a tire around my waist.

obmar · Site Admin Joined: 14 Apr 2006 Posts: 5697

soon you will be celebrating your twentieth aniversary since to kicked it off.

and me fifteen.