The science behind it

The Adams Diet is firmly rooted in the most authoritative research and evidence available.

The Adams Diet is firmly rooted in the most authoritative research and evidence available. You are likely to see our pots being used already by health care professionals across the UK. If you follow our guidance you will consume approximately 1600 kcals per day which is the scientifically proven recommended amount for long term weight loss for most people. However, the diet is built around balanced, optimum nutrition to ensure that your body functions well as you seek to lose weight.

However, if you want to check out a few facts the details below summarise the evidence we have used:

In December 2006, NICE published its review of and recommendations for effective interventions in weight management and found low calorie diets of between 1000-1600kcals per day to be effective in weight loss. (This publication followed the NICE guidance for hypertension published June 2006 which noted similar effective interventions) (8, 9).

The estimated average requirement (EAR) measured in kcals for woman is 1940 kcals per day and for a man is 2550 kcals per day. (6, 10, 11). These EAR’s of energy are based on the present lifestyles and activity levels of the UK population. Therefore for overweight or obese people to lose weight a reduction in total energy (measured in kcals) consumed each day needs to be reduced to around 1000-1600 kcals in line with NICE guidance.

However, reducing energy consumption per day alone has documented health risks and is only one part of the solution. The British Nutrition Foundation (5) notes that, “no single food contains all the essential nutrients the body needs to be healthy and function efficiently. The nutritional value of a person's diet depends on the overall mixture, or balance, of foods that is eaten over a period of time, as well as on the needs of the individual. That is why a balanced diet is one that is likely to include a large number or variety of foods, so adequate intakes of all the nutrients are achieved

We need energy to live, but the balance between carbohydrate, fat and protein must be right for us to remain healthy. Too little protein can interfere with growth and other body functions, too much fat can lead to obesity and heart disease. Adequate intakes of vitamins, minerals and dietary fibre are important for health. (1, 6, 7, 10, 11).

A scientific framework was agreed in 1991 by COMA and reference intake figures for food components for energy was set (10).This has become the foundation on which all UK “balanced” nutrition messages are built.For example the widely used and trusted "Eatwell Plate", developed by the Foods Standards Agency (7). The dietary recommendations are to be found in the 2008 document prepared by the Scientific Advisory Committee in Nutrition, The Nutritional Wellbeing of the British Population (pg3) (10).

The most current evidence available covering weight management and dietary requirements for good physical and mental health therefore suggests that a low energy (low calorie) daily balanced diet is required. (6, 7, 10). The Adams Portion Pot weight management system was therefore designed to advise and practically support the consumption of a scientifically proportioned balance of each food group equating to around 1600kcals per day.

Using these measures against the proportions (6) of each food group required to maintain and promote optimum health, we have provided a clever guide for weight loss based upon a measure of food, called a portion.

References:

  1. British Heart Foundation (2005) So you want to lose weight…for good. British Heart Foundation.
  2. British Nutrition Foundation (2007) Briefing Paper Physical Activity & Health British Nutrition Foundationwww.nutrition.org.uk
  3. British Nutrition Foundation (1999) Task Force Report: Obesity British Nutrition Foundation (Macronutrient)www.nutrition.org.uk
  4. British Nutrition Foundation (December 2006) Briefing Paper on Alcohol consumption in the new millennium. British Nutrition Foundation.
  5. British Nutrition Foundation (2004) www.nutrition.org.uk
  6. COMA (1991) Report on Dietary Reference Values www.sacn.gov.uk/pdfs/nutritional_html - Your guide to healthy eating. Food Standards Agency. www.eatwell.gov.uk
  7. National Institute for Health and Clinical Evidence (December 2006) Obesity Clinical Guidance 43 amended July 2008 (www.nice.org.uk/guidance/CG43/guidance)
  8. National Institute for Health and Clinical Evidence (June 2006) Hypertension –management of hypertension in adults in primary care. Guideline 34 1.2 Lifestyle interventions.
  9. Scientific Advisory Committee in Nutrition (2008) The Nutritional Wellbeing of the British Population. The Stationery office Pg 3 www.sacn.gov.uk/pdfs/nutritional_health_of_the_population_final_oct_08.pdf
  10. Smolin L, Grosvenor M (2000) Nutrition, Science and Applications. Saunders College Publishing. 3rd ed.
  11. Edvard Johansson1, Petri Böckerman2 and Antti Uutela3 (2008) Alcohol consumption and sickness absence: evidence from microdata. 
    1 The Research Institute of the Finnish Economy, Lönnrotinkatu 4B, 00120 Helsinki, Finland 
    2 Labour Institute for Economic Research, Helsinki, Finland 
    3 National Public Health Institute, Helsinki, Finland
  12. Mikko Laaksonen, Kustaa Piha and Sirpa Sarlio-Lähteenkorva. Relative Weight and Sickness Absence Department of Public Health, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland.
  13. National Information Centre (2008) Statistics on obesity, physical activity and diet: England 2008.