article_snippet.sent: Scientists claim to have established which diets are most likely to work - and keep the weight off in the long term .
article_snippet.sent: A landmark report claims to have established which diets are most likely to work - and keep the weight off in the long term.
article_snippet.sent: The US researchers say very few of these - often very expensive - weight loss plans have solid evidence to back up The US researchers claims.
article_snippet.sent: In fact, the results suggest only a few programmes have shown only a few programmes users lose more weight than those not using only a few programmes.
article_snippet.sent: Others produce no better results than people dieting on people own or getting health information elsewhere, while some may actually be harmful to health.
article_snippet.sent: Crucially, very few have been shown to keep the weight off permanently.
article_snippet.sent: But a handful - including Weight Watchers, the Atkins diet, Jenny Craig and NutriSystem - do appear to be effective, according to long-term studies.
article_snippet.sent: : This was because there was 'gold-standard data' showing that people following the diet lost more weight after one year than those people either dieting on those people own or getting health and diet information elsewhere .
article_snippet.sent: The researchers say only two programmes are supported by gold-standard data showing that enrolled dieters - on average - lost more weight after one year than those either dieting on their own or getting health and diet information elsewhere.
article_snippet.sent: NutriSystem produced more weight loss at three months than counselling or education alone, but researchers were unable to find any long-term trials .
article_snippet.sent: Results were generally 'modest', with participants losing on average between three and five per cent more weight than the studies’ control groups who did not take part.
article_snippet.sent: Based on the analysis of the studies, Jenny Craig and Weight Watchers were backed by clinical trials that lasted 12 months or longer and showed those enrolled had a greater weight loss than those not following the plan.
article_snippet.sent: NutriSystem also produced more weight loss at three months than counselling or education alone, but researchers were unable to find any long-term trials of the plan.
article_snippet.sent: But no definite conclusions could be made about Slim-Fast and the internet-based programmes, they say.
article_snippet.sent: Other popular programmes, such as NutriSystem, show promising weight-loss results, but additional studies evaluating long-term outcomes are needed.'
highlights_snippet.sent: Very few plans had evidence they worked better than getting information elsewhere for free - or that they helped weight stay off permanently .