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If you are planning to lose weight, a new study advises rapid weight loss as against conventional practise of losing weight gradually.

Researchers at University of Melbourne sought to find out if gradual weight loss (widely recommended), really results in achievement of long term weight- loss objectives and prevents weight regain in obese individuals. Through a randomized study comprising 200 obese adults, they found that losing weight rapidly provided better benefits.

For the study, researchers randomly assigned a gradual weight loss programme intended at causing average weight loss of 0.5 kg per week for 36 weeks. A rapid weight loss programme comprising a low calorie diet was assigned aimed at reducing weight by 1.5 kg per week for 12 weeks.  

"This randomised study highlights the urgent need for committees that develop clinical guidelines for the management of obesity to change their advice," Joseph Proietto of University Melbourne and the study's lead author said in a press release. 

The authors attributed their findings to greater satiety when taking limited carbohydrate and reduced total food intake due to production of hunger suppressants called ketones when taking very low calorie diets. Losing weight quickly can also motivate participants to complete the programme, researchers explained.

"Global guidelines recommend gradual weight loss for the treatment of obesity, reflecting the widely-held belief that fast weight loss is more quickly regained. However, our results show that an obese person is more likely to achieve a weight loss target of 12.5 per cent weight loss, and less likely to drop out of their weight loss program, if losing weight is done quickly," said Katrina Purcell, the study's co-author.

The study also found that the weight loss programmes did not affect weight regain.

"With similar amounts of weight regained by three years by participants on both diet programmes who completed both phases of the study," researchers wrote.

The findings have been published in The Lancet Diabetes & Endocrinology