Contrary to the wash of high-protein diets, this plan is very low in fat (10 percent of the total calories), high in carbohydrates and primarily vegetarian in nature. The basic premise is that calories from fat cause one to become fat; however, Dean Ornish does concede that calories consumed above maintenance levels contribute to weight gain. The average amount of calories ranges between 1,200 and 1,350 calories a day.

Advantages:
The benefit to this diet is that a small percentage of the population would feel good with very low fat and high carbohydrates.

Disadvantages:
Studies by the National Weight Control Registry indicate that the majority of those who have lost weight and kept it off were successful with a diet comprised of 55 percent carbohydrate, 20 percent protein and 25 percent fat. This diet encourages minimal fat and protein intake. Again like most other diets, by cutting down on a particular substrate, is the easiest way to reduce intake when all other macronutrients are not changed.

Long-term Success:
Dietary fat is important to success for a number of reasons including the transportation of vitamins, satiety (feelings of fullness) and the simple pleasure of consuming food with some fat content. The bottom line to any diet plan relates to the Law of Thermodynamics: When energy (calories) in exceeds energy (calories) out, weight gain results. When energy out exceeds energy in, weight loss is the result.

Eat More, Weigh Less was created by Dean Ornish, M.D.