How woman lost 20kgs in just six months

A woman lost 20 kilograms in just six months on a diet studied by Oxford University.

The diet involves rapid weight loss on a menu of soup and shakes.

But scientists at Oxford now say crash diets may be the best way to help obese people, as long as they’re given ongoing support.

Two years ago, dieter Emma Luff quit normal food. For six months, she ate nothing but shakes and soups, losing 20 kilograms.

“I actually realised wow, this is working, this is coming off,” Ms Luff said.

With the help of counsellors, she re-introduced food, and lost another 10 kilograms.

“It’s now actually knowing what portion sizes I should be eating, keeping that pattern of breakfast lunch dinner, and burning that excess off,” Ms Luff said.

Ms Luff was part of an Oxford University trial which found those on rapid weight loss diets with counselling lost three times the weight of those on other diets.

“Rapid weight loss gives people real motivation to stick with it,” Professor Susan Jebb of Oxford University said.

“But it also gives them a chance to break old habits.”

The obesity epidemic is a major challenge for health systems around the world. In Australia two thirds of adults are overweight or obese.

Scientists in the UK say supplements are so effective they should be available through GPs and paid for by the taxpayer.

However, dieticians are sceptical and say the best and safest way to lose weight is the simple combination of healthy food and exercise.