Eating a healthy diet, rather than a restrictive or fad diet, is a better strategy for weight loss and long term weight management. Restrictive diets are often nutritionally unbalanced, as well as difficult to adhere to, which reduces the chances of weight loss success and keeping off excess weight over time.
A healthy diet includes a balance of fats, proteins, and carbohydrates, as well as water, and nutrients such as vitamins and fiber.
A healthy diet for weight loss includes a variety of healthy foods, such as fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. In most cases, foods high in cholesterol, sugar, saturated fats, animal fat, sodium, and cholesterol, and processed foods, should be limited.