- Are you a healthcare professional? Click here
VLCD stands for "Very Low Calorie Diet". Very low calorie diets (also known as VLED or Very Low Energy Diets) have been shown to be very effective in the management of obesity, providing greater initial weight loss than other forms of calorie restriction. VLCDs are intended for use as part of the management of the moderately to severely overweight & obese, particularly when there is an associated secondary pathology e.g. Type 2 diabetes, hypertension, osteoarthritis, gynaecological disorders, dyslipidaemia, where obesity is an impediment to surgery or where more conservative approaches to weight loss have been unsuccessful. Weight loss with Optifast can lower cholesterol and triglyceride levels, blood glucose levels, blood pressure and waist size.3
There are 4 phases of the OPTIFAST® VLCD™ Program. Although most individuals will start at Intensive phase and work their way through to the Stabilization phase, patients can start at the phase that best suits their needs and weight loss goals.
A VLCD is a low carbohydrate, total food replacement for the dietary management of obesity. It is a nutritionally complete program providing 800 calories or less per day. It also contains the recommended daily requirements for :
Physiologically, reducing energy (calorie or kilojoule) intake to <800 kcal/day (3300 kJ/day) in conjunction with a low carbohydrate intake of less than 70g per day, induces a mild ketosis resulting in fat stores being utilised for energy. The presence of ketones in the urine is expected and during the program, can serve as a useful measure of compliance.
Recent evidence suggests that management with a VLCD does not lead to worse long-term results than other dietary approaches and in fact individuals show better weight loss maintenance when the weight loss is achieved using a VLCD.
VLCDs have been shown to be most effective when combined with behavioural change, active follow-up and pharmacotherapy. Optifast is clinically proven to help you achieve significant weight loss.1
Optifast® VLCD™ is a food for special medical purposes and must be used under the supervision of a health care professional.
Buy Now
CDE
