Final answer:
A healthy whole foods diet supports initial weight loss and its maintenance in a long-term context, corroborated by guidelines and studies focused on balanced dietary choices and an active lifestyle.
Step-by-step explanation:
In a longitudinal study of nearly 30,000 U.S. 50- to 79-year-old women diverse in SES and ethnicity, a healthy whole foods diet was associated with greater initial weight loss and success at maintaining that loss over a seven-year period.For effective weight management, it is critical to balance calorie intake with physical activity. The 2015 Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommend consuming a variety of vegetables, fruits, whole grains, fat-free or low-fat dairy, a range of protein sources, and oils, while limiting saturated fats, trans fats, added sugars, and sodium.
The EAT-Lancet Commission emphasizes a healthy and sustainable reference diet that not only tackles nutritional deficiencies but also aims to mitigate environmental challenges. Furthermore, behavioral interventions can reinforce the maintenance of a healthy weight, and most individuals within the National Weight Control Registry adhered to a low-calorie, low-fat diet complemented by high levels of physical activity to achieve long-term weight loss.
These principles of a healthy diet and lifestyle changes align with the eating patterns practiced by those in the NWCR, and are part of a holistic approach towards wellness that is gaining popularity over the quick fixes offered by fad diets.