According to the research results, the four most popular diets (Ornish, Atkins, Weight Watchers and Zone) effectively reduce body weight and reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease, but only the last three of them meet the criteria of certainty of the Framingham Cardiology Summit.

According to doctors from Tufts University, New England Medical Center, Boston, US, a decrease in body weight of 8-9 kg reduces the risk index of cardiovascular disease by 30%. It is not yet known whether this reduction in the risk index leads to a similar reduction in the incidence of heart attacks.

Doctors examined 160 men and women with excess weight. Most of them weight exceeded the norm by 13 - 33 kg. They were prescribed diets: Atkins (low carbohydrate), Zone (moderate carbohydrate content), Ornish (a low-fat vegetarian diet), Weight Watchers (moderate fat content) and asked to be as strict as possible.

Patients were given special diaries and taught the principles of diet. During the year, they to some extent observed the diet. Doctors evaluated only the effect of diet, and lifestyle changes, such as meditation, exercise and t. were not taken into account. Observe the diet was very difficult, after 2 months 22% could not stand. At the end of 12 months, half of the Atkins and Ornish dieters did not survive, and 35% of those who observed the "Zone" and "Weight Watchers" diet abandoned the idea. Those who did survive these 12 months, body weight and risk index of cardiovascular diseases decreased by: with the Atkins diet by 3.9% and 12.3%, with Ornish at 6. 2% and 6%. 6%, with "Weight Watchers" for 4. 5% and 14%. 7%, with "Zone" on 4. 6% and 10%. 5%, respectively. All diets effectively reduced weight, and all but the Ornish diet reduced the risk index of heart and vascular disease. This does not mean that the Ornish diet does not reduce the risk of heart disease, it's just that there are no statistical confirmations.

Dr. Ornish himself, the inventor of the diet, the founder and head of the Preventive Medicine Research Institute, California, United States, criticized the results and said: "Patients who follow my diet lose weight more, they have a lower cholesterol level, and if there is diabetes significantly decreases the need for insulin, despite the fact that the Atkins diet and "Zone" have been specifically designed to reduce insulin requirements in diabetics ".

These data were confirmed by several other scientists who stated that the Ornish diet reduces the need for insulin at 19. 9%, Atkins only 7. 7%, "Weight Watchers" by 8. 8% and "Zone" on 16. 5%. Ornish diet reduces cholesterol by 16. 7%, Atkins at 8. 6%, Weight Watchers at 7. 7%, and "Zone" on 6. 7%.

The fact is that the risk for the heart is estimated by the ratio between high and low density lipoproteins, and the Ornish diet does not contribute to the high-density fraction increase, while other diets have this capacity. Atkins diet and "Zone" increase useful fractions by 5. 4% and 14%. 6%, respectively, and "Weight Watchers" increases by 18. 5%; and for comparison, the Ornish diet increases these rates by only 2. 2%.

Dr. Ornish believes that this is not the point, and stated: "High-density lipoproteins are a garbage truck that rides and collects garbage - harmful cholesterol fractions. If you have a lot of garbage, then you do not need a garbage truck.

To increase the level of useful cholesterol fractions is very simple, eat a piece of butter, this will increase the level of useful fractions, but will not be of use to you ".

Many doctors do not share his opinion and believe that everything is much more difficult, and low content is considered a risk factor. And to raise useful fractions advise physical exercises. It's good that we showed that all these diets are effective. This means that doctors will be able to individually select a diet for each patient.. En.