The Cambridge Diet
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Cambridge Diet is a weight management programme ranging from 415 to 1500 kcal/day. It is manufactured in the UK and complies with all current UK and EU legislation, guidance and directives (1) (2). The Diet is also sold in more than 20 countries around the world.
It is not affiliated to the US version of the Diet - Cambridge Original and Cambridge Food for Life (3)
The Cambridge Diet was developed in 1970 by Dr. Alan Howard at Cambridge University, England.
It was launched as a commercial product in the United States in 1980. The Diet was very popular in the America but was also the subject of some controversy. It later came under scrutiny from regulators and health authorities after potential health concerns were raised (4) (5).
Cambridge Diet in the UK
In the UK the Cambridge Diet was launched in 1984. In 1986 the Diet was slightly reformulated to adhere to recommendations made by the Commission on Medical Aspects (COMA) (6).
The core principle of the Diet in the UK is very low calorie diet (VLCD) restriction, as low as 415 calories/day, combined with minerals, vitamins and fatty acids to reduce the loss of nutrients typical of low calorie restriction.
The diet formula is intended to harness "the excellent weight loss properties of starvation", while providing enough protein to protect lean tissue, the right level of carbohydrate to promote a mild ketosis (the body's fasting mode, which burns body fat) and eliminate a sense of hunger, and the right levels of vitamins, minerals, trace elements and essential fatty acids to maintain good health. The meals are intended to combine all necessary food groups to satisfy a body’s nutritional needs, in order to allow a person to stop craving foods and overeating.
In 2006 the National Institute of Clinical Excellence (NICE) published its guidance on obesity and acknowledged the use of VCLD’s such as the Cambridge Diet as one option for the management of obesity (7).
For UK specific information regarding how the Cambridge Diet helps with weight-loss see "The Times" article "Do 'very low calorie' milkshake diets work, and are they safe?" by Amanda Ursell, 18th May 2009 (8).
[edit] References
(1) EU Directive: Foods Intended for Use in Energy Restricted Diets for Weight Control. 1996 (Implemented in UK as Statutory Instrument 2182, 1997)
(2) NICE Guidelines on Obesity (CG43) December 2006 – “Full Guideline section 1 – Introduction, methods and recommendations”, page 119
(3) http://www.cambridgedietusa.com/
(4) ^ "Dietician Describes Cambridge Diet as 'Wishful Thinking'". Los Angeles Times. Jun 24, 1982 [[1]] Retrieved on 2009-02-18.
(5) ^ a b "Medical Researchers Urge Caution in Use of Cambridge Diet". The New York Times. November 25, 1983 [2]. Retrieved on 2009-02-18.
(6) – Report on Health and Social Scientific Co-Operation No 31. The Use of Very Low Calorie Diets in Obesity. Committee in Medical Aspects of Food Policy (COMA) DHSS 1987 (HMSO)
(7) NICE Guidelines on Obesity (CG43) December 2006 – Booklet “Information for people who use NHS services – Treatment for people who are overweight and obese”, page 3
(8) http://women.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/women/diet_and_fitness/article6295946.ece
