Grant: Project Grant

Calorie-restricted diets (i.e. low calorie diets) can lead to weight loss, but this method has not been found to be effective because of weight regain and negative effects such as an increase in appetite. Our group has shown that a non-restrictive highly satiating diet, that includes satiating (i.e. filling) foods and ingredients, reduces body fat and improves satiety and compliance without a negative impact on eating behaviours compared to a standard healthy diet over 16 weeks in men with obesity. We do not know the effects of this approach on appetite and long-term body weight loss and if the negative effects can be counteracted with this diet in both men and women with obesity. Our goal is to investigate the effect of a non-restrictive satiating intervention on appetite, body weight loss and maintenance and its potential to minimize the negative effects that usually happen with weight loss caused by caloric restriction in men and women with obesity. This is an 18-month weight loss (phase 1: P1, 6 months) and maintenance (phase 2: P2, 1 year) study with three groups: 1) non-restrictive satiating intervention (P1) followed by a continuation of this intervention (P2); 2) calorie-restricted diet (500 kcal/d deficit) (P1) followed by the non-restrictive satiating intervention (P2) and 3) control diet that includes minimal healthy guidelines (P1) followed by weight maintenance strategies (P2). This study will look at the effect of these interventions on body weight and composition, the appetite, physiological, psychobehavioural and other health-related factors. We expect that the non-restrictive satiating diet will improve the appetite and lead to more sustainable body weight loss and prevent the negative health effects of a calorie-restricted diet, therefore, leading to better maintenance of body weight.