The following are some major approaches to dieting: (1) Controlled dieting such a.... diet amount

The following are some major approaches to dieting: (1) Controlled dieting such as that directed by weight-control clubs ( e.g., Weight Watchers International, Inc.) and health spas involves programs that include education on nutrition, group reinforcement, specially constructed diets that provide adequate amounts of nutrients, and weight-maintenance regimens that are designed for long-term use. The prudent diet and its relatives stress a low-saturated and high-unsaturated fat content and limited amounts of sugar; they restrict red meat and stress poultry and nonoily fish. (3) Formula diets, such as Metrecal, Slender Now, and the Cambridge Diet plan, provide for the intake of a minimum of necessary nutrientsespecially proteinin liquid form. Many such plans are packaged with liquids or powdered supplements, to be consumed variously from one to four times a day; modified versions call for two liquid meals and one meal of conventional food. The advantages of such formulas are r! itual and reduced decision making, and the disadvantages are that dieters learn nothing about eating habits because choices are made for them and, also, that the more restrictive of these diets (down to 300 calories per day) can be quite dangerous to the health. The richness of the diet, in general, may produce dangerous effects related to the excretion of large amounts of uric acid and other nitrogenous end products and to the high saturated-fat content of the diet. The best of the high-carbohydrate diets are moderate in protein and low in fat and promise slow weight loss with exercise and careful nutritional consideration.