Recently a new study was published in the New England Journal of Medicine that was done to determine the best way for people to keep the weight off once they had gotten to their goal weight. The research was one of the largest to date and included over 700 individuals that had recently lost an average of 24 pounds on a weight loss program done by the same researchers. The families of the weight loss participants also were included in the study because the researchers believed that the assistance, or lack thereof, would be a significant contributor to whether or not the participants were able to keep the weight off. For the study, participants were put on one of five diets that suggested a different combination of protein and carbohydrate amounts, but did not control for anything else. Within each group the participants received counseling, information on healthy meal options, and cooking tips for the next six months as part of the study. Throughout the time frame the study subjects were monitored via weigh-ins and periodic blood tests. After the six-month time frame the group on the high protein, low carbohydrate maintenance program had not only kept the weight off, but also actually lost some more weight. With the low protein, high carbohydrate diet had done the worst with gaining an average of four pounds back. According to the European researchers who performed the study at the University of Copenhagen in Denmark, a diet rich in lean meats, poultry and beans appear to be the best combination for preventing weight regain. Also of interest was how many people dropped out in the five different groups. The lowest number of people dropped out in the high protein, low carbohydrate group. Suggesting that it was a program that was easier for people to follow and that it possibly disrupted the rest of the families normal habits the least. Making the high protein, low carbohydrates program both the easier program for individuals to follow and the family members to support. According Dr. David Ludwig for Children’s Hospital in Boston, it is most likely the metabolic changes that take place when protein is eaten that is making it an easier program to follow, as protein is usually the type of food that makes people feel fuller sooner when starting a meal. The researchers hope to follow the study for a longer period of time next to see if the changes can still be seen at one year. To learn more about subjects like this and to start changing your body, please visit us at New Lifestyle Diet.