many other journals. He is board certified in clinical
psychology.
In 1979, Miller founded what is now known as the
Hilton Head Health Institute on Hilton Head Island in
South Carolina. The institute is a weight loss and life-
style modification retreat and spa where dieters can go
to lose weight and learn new health and wellness skills.
The Hilton Head metabolism diet was created by
Miller using information and insights that he gained
through helping dieters at the institute. Miller was the
executive director of the institute until 2000.
The Hilton Head metabolism diet first appeared
as a book of the same in 1983. The book was extremely
popular and since then Miller has published additional
books targeted at specific groups, includingThe Hilton
Head Over-35 DietandThe Hilton Head Diet for
Children and Teenagers. In 1996 he published an
updated version of his original book, calledThe New
Hilton Head Metabolism Diet.
Description
The Hilton Head metabolism diet aims to increase
a dieter’s base metabolic rate. By doing this its intent is
to not only help the dieter lose weight while on the diet,
but to make weight maintenance easier for the dieter in
the future. Miller says that 70% of the calories that a
person burns each day are burned through metabolic
processes, and only the other 30% are burned through
exercise and activity. Metabolic activity is all of the
processes that are required to support life, such as the
processes necessary for temperature regulation, diges-
tion, making new cells, breaking down products for
use by the body, and creating proteins and other nec-
essary substances. All of these processes require
energy that is acquired each day from food. If not
enough food is eaten to supply the body’s energy
needs, the body looks for energy elsewhere, such as
in the form of stored fat.
Miller believes that because such a large percent-
age of caloric expenditure comes from metabolic activ-
ity, weight loss can be achieved more effectively
through increased metabolism than through increased
exercise alone. This diet is intended to help dieters
raise their metabolic rates leading to increased calorie
usage, which in turn can lead to weight loss through
the burning of fat stores as energy.
An important aspect of this diet is that Miller
provides psychological and emotional help to dieters
that may have been struggling for many years with
their weight, and who may feel uncomfortable or
ashamed about their weight or appearance. He tells
dieters that it is not their fault that they are over-
weight, and that they should not allow others to put
them down. He says that although overweight people
do not usually have metabolisms that are abnormal,
they do often have metabolisms that are slow com-
pared to the metabolisms of thinner people. This is
why it is so important for overweight people to change
their metabolism if they are going to lose weight, and
keep it off.
The diet plan consists of a six week weight loss
phase followed by a two week weight maintenance
phase. This eight week plan can be repeated as many
times as necessary until the desired weight loss has
been achieved. Miller suggests that at first dieters
aim to lose 10% of their body weight, especially very
overweight dieters, because it is through this first
amount of weight loss that the greatest health benefits
are often seen.
Miller provides meal plans and recipes to go along
with this diet. During the weight loss phase the dieter is
limited to what amounts to about 1000 calories per
day. On the weekends, however, the dieter is allowed
an increased caloric consumption, usually about 200
to 250 more calories each day than during the week.
During the weight maintenance phase the dieter is
allowed a number of calories based on various per-
sonal needs.
The diet provides meal plans that are generally
low in fat, usually fewer than 15 to 20 grams per day,KEY TERMS
Diabetes mellitus—A condition in which the body
either does not make or cannot respond to the
hormone insulin. As a result, the body cannot use
glucose (sugar). There are two types, type 1 or
juvenile onset and type 2 or adult onset.
Dietary supplement—A product, such as a vitamin,
mineral, herb, amino acid, or enzyme, that is
intended to be consumed in addition to an individ-
ual’s diet with the expectation that it will improve
health.
Mineral—An inorganic substance found in the
earth that is necessary in small quantities for the
body to maintain a health. Examples: zinc, copper,
iron.
Vitamin—A nutrient that the body needs in small
amounts to remain healthy but that the body cannot
manufacture for itself and must acquire through
diet.Hilton Head metabolism diet