In recent, researchers have been observing the new dietary weight loss program iDiet. According to their website, this new diet discovery is a science-based weight loss program that significantly lowers health care costs and productivity loss associated with high risk and obese employees, by reducing Type 2 diabetes, sleep apnea, cardiovascular disease, hypertension, and the need for gastric surgery.
The research.
The research behind iDiet involved 15 overweight adults who were otherwise healthy. The study started off with participants having their brains scanned before and six months into the program to measure how the reward system of the iDiet effected their brains.
Participants were encouraged to try and cut back their caloric intake by 500-1000 calories per day (like leaving out the double cheeseburger with the works for lunch).
During the brain scan portion, participants were studied through a functional MRI. Those involved were studied normally when not exposed to food, and brain scans were taken for hours after a meal to show when they were ready for another. They were also shown 40 images of common high-calorie and low-calorie foods, and their brain responses were measured. They were also asked to rank how desirable the food item was to them from one to ten (one being not desirable at all).
The results.
Results showed that the participants on the iDiet throughout the six months lost an average of about 14 lbs. while those in the control group gained about 5 lbs.
The brain scans showed a greater increase in activation when shown lower-calorie foods for iDiet participants. They had more desire to eat low-calorie foods and not as much for high-calorie foods like previously. Note: the difference was not large enough to reach mathematical significance.
The brains.
The newest in the weight loss program industry, iDiet, was developed by Susan B. Roberts, PhD, Professor of Nutrition and Psychiatry at Tufts University. Along with her academic successes, she has conducted and written over 200 research studies on weight management and nutrition– so to say she knows her stuff would be an understatement.
The science.
The primary part of losing weight is developing a program that keeps it off. The main aspects of the iDiet is all about our neurobiology of eating. We must cater to those needs in order to be successful.
Dr. Roberts theory behind the cognitive reconstruction the iDiet provides is that it gets you practicing and repeating new behaviors so that they become comfortable old habits– pretty intelligent, right?! This program helps its users to successfully eliminate most of the food cravings that interfere with weight loss in the first place.
Check this out to see the parts of the brain targeted.
The magic.
The magic behind the meals used throughout the weight loss program is that it optimizes:
- different types of dietary fibers
- protein
- the glycemic index of carbohydrates
- food volume
- fat per meal and snack
All of the meal and snack options are simple, doable, and delicious for users’ convenience. The menu is designed around he neurobiology of eating and works to create new eating habits that stick because they are satisfactory to the body and brain–it’ll have you craving more, but only of the good stuff! The combination of types of food are aimed to make you feel fuller and reduce hunger.
The following is a look at some of the iDiet sample recipes: https://www.theidiet.com/
