Why is it called the Cambridge Diet?

The diet was developed by Professor Alan Howard at Cambridge University just over 20 years ago. Alan Howard needed to discover a way for patients to lose weight quickly who were waiting for heart surgery. Weight loss had to be fast, healthy and effective. His research led to the formation of meal replacements, each one providing one third of an individual's daily nutritional requirements. So in taking 3 meals a day (4 for men), the individual was having a healthy diet containing all the nutrients required by the body. Patients lost weight so rapidly that the diet was then launched nationally, as an alternative to conventional diets.

The role of the counsellor/dietician

The diet's worldwide success is based on the fact that it is a very low calorie diet and this requires the body to enter into a state of ketosis after 3 days on the diet. This occurs when the body starts to burn fat for energy, thereby achieving rapid weight loss. The unique selling point of the diet however, is the fact that dieters are supported throughout their weight loss by a Counsellor, who is trained to carry out a medical assessment on the client, weigh and measure them every week and provide lots of encouragement - an invaluable service to keep dieters motivated. Once hitting their target weight the counsellor also takes them through a stabilisation programme designed to gradually get the dieter back to eating a full healthy diet. Most importantly, this also minimises the risk of weight gain in the future.

Counsellors also supply the products and with the client, decide on a programme that best suits that individual, taking into account their preferences and lifestyle. Dieticians also provide this service all over the world and it is hoped that this will be the case in Cyprus too.

Not just meal replacements - the 5 programmes:

One of the myths often associated with the diet is that it consists only of meal replacements - 'sole source' - as it is known. This is not true. The counsellor or dietician will assess each client and dependent on their health, weight and circumstances will opt for a programme most suited to them.

There are 5 programmes from which to choose, each one increasing the quantity and range of food groups allowed:
800 calorie programme consisting of 4 Cambridge meals
800 calorie programme consisting of 3 Cambridge meals and an evening meal daily;
1000 calorie programme consisting of conventional breakfast, 2 Cambridge meals and an evening meal
1200 calorie programme consisting of 2 Cambridge meals and 2 conventional meals
1500 calorie programme consisting of 1 Cambridge diet and 3 conventional meals

On reaching target, the client will also follow a 5 stage stabilisation programme to ensure they are educated in healthy eating and correct portion sizes.

Benefits of the diet

There is a wide choice of meals available in the form of shakes, soups, meal bars and soon to be introduced - pasta.

Many people with busy lifestyles do not have the time to shop or prepare food especially for themselves when they are dieting. The Cambridge diet enables them to eat healthily with as little fuss as possible.

More importantly, for many people struggling to lose weight, is that if they do decide on the sole source programme (4 Cambridge meals daily in Cyprus), they need not come into contact with conventional food - which is the downfall of many failed dieters. With the Cambridge diet, no temptation is put in the path of the dieter.

The health professionals choice worldwide

The Cambridge Diet is so healthy that no additional nutrition is required Each meal provides one third of a person's daily nutritional requirements. No vitamin supplements are required. Also, clients follow four stages of a stabilisation programme to help educate them in healthy eating after completing the diet. This is why the Cambridge Diet is used by doctors and dieticians the world over. Hospitals and doctors worldwide view the diet as a very healthy alternative to conventional diets and are keen to recommend it to patients - particularly the obese. To prove the point, the UK's National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE), published only in December 2006, its 'Guidance on Obesity' and acknowledged the Cambridge Diet as a very valid treatment option to combat obesity. The British Dietetic Association names only the Cambridge Diet as a very low calorie diet option and discourages the purchase of 'over the counter products'. It is these meals that dieticians in Cyprus often refer to and should not be confused with the Cambridge Diet. Another reason why the diet is endorsed by so many health professionals and bodies, such as those named above, is that because of its nutritional value and controlled fat and carbohydrate content, it is able to greatly contribute towards the reduction of diabetes type 2, blood pressure, risk of heart disease and joint damage.

Voted the world's best diet

On January 4 2006, research was carried out on Channel 4's 'Superslim Me - the best and worst diets' where volunteers took part in testing the world's most well known diets. A doctor monitored their progress throughout the trials. At the end of the trial, weight loss was recorded. The dieter who lost the most weight and in the healthiest way, was the one on the Cambridge Diet. The doctor concluded that because, nutrition could be measured and that ketosis assisted in the loss of fat stores rather than muscle or water, that it was by far the healthiest and effective diet.