ATD: How Good is the Every Other Day Diet?

Question:

Is the EODD healthy and is it maintainable in the longer term? Does it work as well as it’s advertised (I can’t seem to find much customer feedback)? Martin L.

Answer:

Dear Martin,

I have seen some diet reviews, but haven’t read the actual program myself. We do have a review posted here for you to read. That said, based on what I’ve found, the diet does work. It basically limits your calorie intake to a level lower than you need for weight maintenance. Eat less and lose weight! The program also encourages exercise, and includes a discussion of how important your frame of mind is when dealing with what you eat and how much.

The “gimmick” is that you change the amount of calories you eat from day to day. The authors assert that this constant change in your energy intake tricks your body out of reducing your metabolism, as can happen on long-term low-calorie diets. It is true that over time, on a very low calorie diet, your body metabolism will fall, causing you to stop losing weight even at a reduced intake. What that level, or length of time is, nobody really knows. It’s probably not two days.

What’s appealing to most people is that you can have foods you like every other day (or every other 2 days, depending on the part of the cycle). In reality, though, portion sizes still have to be controlled.

This diet is like others that have a plan outlining what you can eat, what you cannot, and how much. As with any diet plan, users often become disengaged after about six weeks. It’s difficult to keep up with a regimen that interferes with our social eating, makes us think about what we can eat at any given time, and requires planning daily intake ahead of time. Any diet works while you stay on it. This diet may be a good jump start for people who need to see some results in order to keep going. After a while, though, old habits are likely to return.

Do you have a question for the Dietician? Submit your question here!

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Written by Laurie Beebe

About The Author: Laurie Beebe has been a registered dietitian for 25 years and is certified in adult weight management. Laurie currently serves as a diet coach and life coach at www.mycoachlaurie.com