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    Are all "diets" really just a way to reduce calories in the end?

    Posts: 66 Member
    edited December 2024 in Health and Weight Loss
    Low Carb
    Paleo
    Vegetarian
    Vegan
    Meal Replacements
    Weight Watchers
    Etc. Etc. Etc.

    I get that people adhere to certain diets for specific and personal reasons, but if we are just strictly talking weight loss, are all "diets" just different ways of reducing calories?

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    • Posts: 650 Member
      yes
    • Posts: 35,719 Member
      Yes
    • Posts: 6,208 Member
      TavistockToad wrote: »
      Yes

    • Posts: 41,865 Member
      Yes...all diets "work" on the same premise...energy deficiency...
    • Posts: 554 Member
      edited September 2016
      I would say that being vegetarian and vegan are more of a lifestyle than a diet for most people who follow them. I don't know about the rest.

      But you're talking weight and calories here, not the other personal reasons. You can easily be a fat vegetarian (raises hand!! raises hand!!). I gained a ton of weight slurping down Greek yogurts, chips, popcorn, etc.

      Also, many of these "diets" tackle other health problems, not just being overweight.
    • Posts: 7,574 Member
      Yes

      However vegan and vegetarian do not equate to weightloss, and really shouldn't be included in that list. They are more ethical choice (especially vegan).
    • Posts: 25,763 Member
      Veganism is an ethical position on unnecessary animal exploitation. Some people find their overall calorie consumption is reduced when they stop eating animal products. Others eat about the same amount. Some people even gain weight because they wind up eating more calories.
    • Posts: 22,505 Member
      honeybee739 wrote: »
      Low Carb
      Paleo
      Vegetarian
      Vegan
      Meal Replacements
      Weight Watchers
      Etc. Etc. Etc.

      I get that people adhere to certain diets for specific and personal reasons, but if we are just strictly talking weight loss, are all "diets" just different ways of reducing calories?

      No, reducing calories is reducing calories. A certain way of eating may help an individual with controlling their intake in general, but it's not specific to weight loss. A person can eat a low carb or paleo diet while losing weight, and then continue to eat that way while maintaining or trying to gain weight. It's a personal preference which allows a person to reach their individual goals in a way that is manageable for them.
    • Posts: 10,330 Member
      Definitely! The only difference is that different weight loss diets explore different sets of tools to make that calorie reduction easier to achieve.
    • Posts: 1,377 Member
      No, you can gain weight eating all of those types of ways. The only way to lose weight (excluding surgery) is to eat less than you burn, how you chose to do that, and what types of food you eat are up to you.
    • Posts: 176 Member
      I think "diets" are often advertised with the emphasis on food control or supplement so companies like Nutrisystem and WW or even just the "diet food" industry in general can make more $$. The main benefit is the guess work is taken away. However, there is usually mention of an activity plan for "best results", its just not the main gig. For people like me who hate to "exercise" I would much rather focus on the controlled calorie deficit. However, in my personal experience, following one and not the other often does not get you want you really want.
    • Posts: 66 Member
      I can't believe I forgot "CLEAN" eating.
    • Posts: 2,246 Member
      Vegetarian and vegan are for ethical reasons and weightloss is not the goal and has nothing to do.

      Weight Watchers is the only diet in your list which boils down to eating lower calories. But even with it it still depends how much you burn.
      You can eat low carb, paleo, meal replacement etc and aim at maintanance, so no they are not inherently low calorie.
    • Posts: 25,763 Member
      gebeziseva wrote: »
      Vegetarian and vegan are for ethical reasons and weightloss is not the goal and has nothing to do.

      Weight Watchers is the only diet in your list which boils down to eating lower calories. But even with it it still depends how much you burn.
      You can eat low carb, paleo, meal replacement etc and aim at maintanance, so no they are not inherently low calorie.

      I believe that Weight Watchers also has programs to help you maintain your weight.
    • Posts: 66 Member
      Some people do eat vegetarian or vegan as a way to control weight. MOST people decide for ethical reasons, but not all. As mentioned in my original post, I am talking STRICTLY weight loss. Not factoring in any other reasoning behind subscribing to a specific style of eating.
    • Posts: 25,763 Member
      honeybee739 wrote: »
      Some people do eat vegetarian or vegan as a way to control weight. MOST people decide for ethical reasons, but not all. As mentioned in my original post, I am talking STRICTLY weight loss. Not factoring in any other reasoning behind subscribing to a specific style of eating.

      I think you're referring to a plant-based diet, as vegans would also avoid things like wearing fur or leather or animal products in health or beauty items. There is no weight control benefit to avoiding those items.
    • Posts: 17,456 Member
      edited September 2016
      honeybee739 wrote: »
      Low Carb
      Paleo
      Vegetarian
      Vegan
      Meal Replacements
      Weight Watchers
      Etc. Etc. Etc.

      I get that people adhere to certain diets for specific and personal reasons, but if we are just strictly talking weight loss, are all "diets" just different ways of reducing calories?

      Yes all diets to "lose weight" are a way to personally adhere to eating fewer calories than you burn

      Just as all diets to gain or maintain are a way to adhere to a different calorie equation

      It's not complicated or up for discussion really. If you are working effectively towards your weight goal you are managing your calories in against your calories out, no matter how you choose to do it

      You can follow any of those ways of eating in bold strictly and not achieve your specific goals in weight management because only WW in that list has a portion size element. Of course by adhering to one of the diets you may naturally select lower calorie, more sating foods
    • Posts: 17,456 Member
      honeybee739 wrote: »
      Some people do eat vegetarian or vegan as a way to control weight. MOST people decide for ethical reasons, but not all. As mentioned in my original post, I am talking STRICTLY weight loss. Not factoring in any other reasoning behind subscribing to a specific style of eating.

      Some people may eat a vegetarian or vegan diet with care and attention to overall calories, unconsciously or consciously to hit a weight goal. But the diets are not intrinsically low calorie and there enough fat vegetarians to prove that point
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    • Posts: 222 Member
      Pretty much!
    • Posts: 66 Member

      Noel_57 wrote: »
      I'm on eight Watchers for ethical reasons. Oprah needs the money. :|

      You're so kind. Ha!
    This discussion has been closed.

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