Groundbreaking study finds rapid weight loss is better than gradually losing weight

When it comes to losing weight, there is a whole load of different messaging out there.

Some of it can be quite dangerous but some of it can also be pretty confusing.

But the annual European Congress on Obesity in Turkey this week has dispelled previous beliefs, such as what our daily step counts should be.

And another groundbreaking study presented this year has found that rapid weight loss may be more effective than gradual weight loss.

Experts found that people who shed weight quickly achieve more weight loss than those who do it gradually and are also more likely to see sustained weight loss after a year.

So, one said that the study ‘challenges the longstanding assumption that gradual weight loss is superior for long-term outcomes’.

Experts say the results 'challenge the prevailing belief' around gradual weight loss. (Getty Stock)

The team from Norway assessed the impacts of a rapid weight loss programme compared to a gradual one with data from 284 obese adults split across.

The rapid programme span 16 weeks with people limited to 1,000 calories in weeks one to eight, up to 1,300 calories in weeks nine to 12 and then 1,500 calories in weeks 13 to 16.

Meanwhile, those in the gradual programme received instruction to reduce calories by 1,000 in a day, with the group self-reporting roughly 1,400 a day.

It’s of course important to point out here that the NHS advises the average man needs 2,500 calories a day and the average woman needs 2,000.

After doing the 16-week weight loss phase, both of the groups followed an identical 36-week programme aimed at preventing them from regaining weight.

The researchers say that during the initial 16-week programme the rapid group lost significantly more body weight than those in the gradual.

The rapid weight loss group lost 12.9 percent of their total body weight compared to an average of 8.1 percent lost by those in the gradual group.

It's still important to seek advice. (Getty Stock)

And here’s the key part to this, after a year, those in the rapid group had lost 14.4 percent while the gradual group lot lost 10.5 percent.

“Among adults with obesity, participation in a structured rapid weight loss programme resulted in significantly greater weight loss at one year,” the authors wrote.

“These findings indicate that, when provided within a controlled and professionally supervised setting, rapid weight loss may represent a more effective method than gradual weight loss for reaching key body weight targets associated with reduced obesity-related health risks.”

Lead author, Dr Line Kristin Johnson, from Vestfold Hospital Trust in Norway, added: “Our results clearly challenge the prevailing belief that slow and steady gradual weight loss is necessary to prevent weight regain and reduce obesity-related complications.

“By contrast, we show that rapid weight loss is not associated with weight regain, and, more importantly, that a larger proportion of participants undergoing rapid weight loss – compared with gradual weight loss."

It is important to speak to a professional before making dramatic lifestyle changes and always speak to a health care professional for medical advice.