What is the Volumetrics diet — and should you try it?
Deprivation is often the deal breaker of many diets. Weight loss on restrictive plans may occur in the beginning, but humans are wired to return to their comfort zones. In 2000, a diet called Volumetrics emerged as a way to enable weight loss without the additional challenge of feeling like you’re giving something up.
What is the Volumetrics diet?
Created by Barbara Rolls, the author of several books on the Volumetrics diet, this eating plan is structured around foods that are lower in calories yet high in nutrients like fiber-rich cruciferous vegetables, whole grains and water-based broths. The theory is that this combination of low-calorie-dense but high-nutrient-dense foods could make you feel full on fewer calories.
The plan is divided into four groups based on how nutritious the foods are and how many calories they provide, and it offers a road map for portions, which is essentially to eat more of groups 1 and 2 and taper off portions and frequency in groups 3 and 4.
Group 1 includes non-starchy fruits and vegetables, nonfat milk and broth-based soups that are considered “free foods.” Groups 2 (lean protein like poultry and fish, starchy vegetables, legumes and whole grains) and 3 (salad dressing, cheese, pizza and more) have foods that must be carefully portioned. Lastly, group 4 includes crackers, chips, chocolate candies, cookies, nuts, butter and oil — all foods you should minimize.
In addition to the food groupings, Rolls recommends about 30 minutes per day of physical activity.
Maya Feller, a Brooklyn-based dietitian and author of “The Southern Comfort Foods Diabetes Cookbook," said the Volumetrics diet is truly "a ‘no diet’ diet.” A key strength of the eating plan, she pointed out, “is its simplicity.” Feller added that since the Volumetrics diet “focuses on types of foods that promote satiety, it may be easier for individuals to follow the diet and remain motivated during the first days, which can be the hardest psychologically.”
The science behind the diet
The Volumetrics diet supports beneficial diet and lifestyle changes, and its efficacy is backed by science, so it’s generally regarded as a sound eating plan, says Feller.
In 2014, a small randomized control trial analyzed various methods for weight loss, including the Volumetrics diet approach of consuming low-calorie-dense foods. The study included 132 participants, and while all participants lost weight, those following a Volumetrics approach showed superior results in weight loss and were able to maintain it more effectively compared to the other groups.
Additional research with a larger sample size of 9,551 adults found that individuals following low-calorie-dense eating patterns had significantly lower BMI, smaller waist circumference and were less likely to be obese.
Is the diet sustainable?
Julia Zumpano, a dietitian with the Cleveland Clinic, said that “the diet was designed to provide more sustained long-term weight loss,” adding that “there is certainly potential for short-term weight loss, especially if you significantly minimize category 3 and category 4 for the short term” and adhere to exercise guidelines. Zumpano said she likes that the diet focuses on vegetables, fruits and foods that provide fiber, fullness and satiety. Like Feller, Zumpano said she believes the plan is “simple to follow, suitable for dietary restrictions and various dietary preferences, and backed by research.”
There are, however, a few downfalls to the diet. Feller cautioned that the meal planning aspect could be challenging and says that “for people who don't cook at home, preparing all meals may be a barrier.” She pointed out that eating out is allowed on the diet. But, she said, “navigating a restaurant menu may be challenging when eating (low-calorie) density foods.” She also mentioned that “when following any diet from a book, the person misses the individualization and guidance that comes from working with a registered dietitian.”
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Zumpano added that “watching portion sizes for category 3 and minimizing intake of category 4 is vague and self-directed, which can lead to consuming higher quantities of these foods than intended by the diet.”
In fact, a 2020 animal study found that highly palatable foods (as found mostly in category 4) impacted pleasure receptors in the brain that led to overeating and obesity. This could counteract the effectiveness of the plan and force Volumetrics dieters back into their comfort zones. Finally, Zumpano cautioned that the diet “may not meet the needs of those that would benefit from more structure.”
Should you try the Volumetrics diet?
If you’ve struggled with restrictive diets in the past and are seeking a more phased-in approach, then the Volumetrics diet may be a good fit. However, both Feller and Zumpano said they believe that success with this diet ultimately depends on the individual.
The Volumetrics diet is one of the smarter and safer approaches that you can consider. Working with a dietitian or physician to structure a more personalized approach — one that involves a plan for portion control in groups 3 and 4 and meal planning — could be the healthy eating solution you’ve been looking for.
This article was originally published on TODAY.com
