Lose weight
Stiftung Warentest: Which diet approaches are really good
If you want to lose pounds, you should work on your diet in the long term
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According to the Robert Koch Institute, over half of Germans have a problem with being overweight. Especially at the beginning of the year, many people want to eat healthier and perhaps lose a few kilos. But it’s better to avoid a crash diet.
New year, new diet resolution. This is probably how the beginning of the year starts for many Germans. After Christmas feasting has put another kilo or two on your ribs, a diet should fix it. And every year countless new fashion treatments come onto the market that promise to quickly lose weight. But these crash diets only cause frustration or, in the case of paid programs, an empty wallet. Stiftung Warentest examined 15 diet and nutrition concepts. The product testers evaluated what the study situation is, how feasible they are and whether they help you maintain your desired weight in the long term.
The result can be easily summarized: Even in 2024, no miracle diet will come onto the market that makes losing weight easy. There is no magic cure. The formula always remains the same: a balanced diet and calories have to be saved.
The obesity guidelines recommend saving 500 kilocalories per day over a longer period of time compared to before. Because: Healthy weight loss takes time. According to Stiftung Warentest, nutritional concepts that help us change our eating habits in the long term are recommended. That’s five pieces in total. For example, the Mediterranean diet, i.e. lots of fruit, vegetables, olive oil and fish instead of meat. This means: If you want to lose weight permanently, you also have to choose a diet that fits into your everyday life, can be implemented and still allows you to enjoy it.
Stiftung Warentest: Healthy weight loss is not possible through extreme dietary changes
If you want to lose weight, you should avoid sugary drinks. Sweets are usually calorie bombs and are therefore rarely included in the menu. If you eat an apple instead of an ice cream sundae, you can save calories.
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The product testers classify several diet concepts such as the keto diet as unsuitable for losing weight healthily. Because: Strictly avoiding carbohydrates would mean a drastic change in diet and could even harm the heart. Overall, nutritional concepts are classified as unsuitable if their effects are not scientifically proven, do not allow healthy weight loss and are not suitable for long-term changes in diet.
Stiftung Warentest recommends finding a suitable nutritional concept, getting an overview of your eating habits, taking your time and, if necessary, seeking support from a doctor or nutritionist.
You can find the complete paid test at test!
You can find further tips for maintaining weight in another article from Stiftung Warentest!