Nutrition Low Calorie Diet (LCD)

Nutrition low calorie diet (LCD) is prescribed for weight loss or maintenance. Two sample diets suggested by the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute (NHLBI) can be considered low calorie diets: one is a 1200 calorie and the other a 1600 calorie diet. Usually a low calorie diet will include traditional foods but made with fewer calories than they usually are. For example, chicken without the skin would be included in a low calorie diet whereas a full calorie diet might allow for the consumption of skin because of its high fat content. A low calorie diet may vary depending on how much weight loss is necessary, the person's gender, or how much the individual weighs.

A low calorie diet is less severe than a very low calorie diet (VLCD). A VLCD may contain 800 or fewer calories per day, many or most of which may consist of meal replacement drinks ("Very Low Calorie Diets"). A VLCD is only recommended in certain situations, such as when immediate weight loss is necessary for health reasons. Extremely obese individuals might benefit from a VLCD but the diet is usually only used under doctor's supervision.

Either of the low calorie diets offered by the NHLBI can benefit overweight individuals and the obese. Severely obese individuals or those with a body mass index greater than 30 may be candidates for the VLCD ("Very Low Calorie Diets"). Moreover, individuals with diseases like diabetes or high blood pressure who also have a high body mass index might want to consider using a VLCD to mitigate problems associated with their condition. However, persons who are overweight but healthy and not obese should rely on one of the suggested low calorie diets to lose weight instead of the more extreme VLCD.

Doctors generally evaluate each patient for suitability for either the LCD or the VLCD. Eating plans like two "Traditional American Cuisine" low calorie plans can help an individual lose weight at a moderate pace, thereby preventing side-effects and encouraging new lifestyle habits. Similarly, the more rapid loss of weight associated with the VLCD may motivate an obese person to continue with behavioral and lifestyle changes that accompany long-term recovery from serious diseases like diabetes, high blood pressure, or heart disease. ("Very Low Calorie Diets").

Some risks may be associated with both the LCD and the VLCD. Side effects of a very low calorie diet may include fatigue, nausea, or constipation ("Very Low Calorie Diets"). The formation of gallstones may also accompany the rapid weight loss associated with the VLCD ("Very Low Calorie Diets"). A low calorie diet like those recommended by the NHLBI may result in fewer side effects.

A low calorie diet may become a relatively long-term solution to chronic health care issues that require weight loss and maintenance. The VLCD is more suitable for short-term use. In the case with severely obese individuals with health care issues, use over several months may be necessary. However, in the long-term, doctors and their patients should work together to craft an eating regimen that is low in calories yet enjoyable enough that the individual incorporates it as part of an overall lifestyle change.