surgery. This can help reduce complications and
smooth the transition into a fluid-only diet after the
surgery. Another diet is an Optifast diet intended for
very obese adolescents. Optifast also offers bars and
other products, which are not associated with its orig-
inal fluid-only diet. In addition to the very-low calorie
diet, diet plans with a more moderate quantity of
calories per day are also available.
FunctionThe Optifast diet is intended for significant weight
loss by the extremely overweight. It is especially aimed
at those people who have health problems related to
obesity and who need to lose significant weight
quickly to avoid serious health complications. The
Optifast diet must be administered by a physician
who is trained in using the Optifast system. Although
the eligibility requirements for the Optifast program
vary from clinic to clinic, generally a person must be at
least 50 pounds overweight to be eligible for the Opti-
fast diet. It is not intended for people interested in
losing 10 or 20 pounds that are more a cosmetic prob-
lem than a serious medical issue.Benefits
There are many possible benefits to significant
weight loss for the obese. These benefits can include
both looking and feeling better, as well as having more
energy. In addition to these general benefits there are
many specific health benefits to weight-loss. These
benefits tend to be even greater for people who are
moderately or severely obese because a greater degree
of obesity is generally associated with greater health
risks.
Novartis Medical Nutrition, the makers of Opti-
fast, reports that in 20,000 people studied who had
completed 22 weeks of the Optifast diet, on average
there was a weight loss of 52 pounds. This was a loss of
22% of body weight. They also report an average
decrease of 29% in blood glucose levels, a 15% aver-
age decrease in total cholesterol, and an average
decrease in blood pressure of 10%. Reductions in
cholesterol and blood pressure can be especially sig-
nificant in overall health gains from weight loss
because they are important risk factors for heart
disease.
Another possible benefit of the Optifast diet is an
opportunity for the dieter to re-learn food habits and
behaviors while on the all-liquid phase of the diet.
During this time no food choices have to be made,
the program is firmly outlined. Therefore it may pro-
vide an opportunity for the dieter to take a more
objective look at some negative eating habits, and
come up with positive ways of dealing with potential
problems, before going back to eating self-prepared
foods.
Some people also believe that Optifast may pro-
vide psychological benefits to dieters who have very
significant amounts of weight to lose. It can be frus-
trating to lose one to two pounds a week if the eventual
goal is weight loss of 100 pounds or more. A program
like Optifast that allows a large quantity of weight loss
in a short period of time may allow dieters to be
encouraged by seeing results more quickly, possibly
providing positive psychological benefits.Precautions
The Optifast diet is intended to be followed only
under the supervision of a physician trained in admin-
istering the Optifast system. No very-low calorie diet
should be undertaken without close medical supervi-
sion. It is also only intended for people who have large
amounts of weight to lose, generally more than 50KEY TERMS
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.
Gallstone—Stones that form in the gallbladder or
bile duct from excess cholesterol or salts.
Laparoscopic—Pertaining to a surgical procedure
which uses an instrument which can be inserted
into the body to view structures within the abdo-
men and pelvis.
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.
Type 2 diabetes—Sometime called adult-onset dia-
betes, this disease prevents the body from properly
using glucose (sugar).
Very-low calorie diet—A diet of 800 calories or
fewer per day.
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.Optifast