18 Mar 2024 --- An Australian study finds that short-term, very low-calorie diets are a “safe” method of weight loss for teenagers with moderate to severe obesity. With supervision, the approach is considered viable for individuals who do not respond to conventional diet and exercise programs and may be used instead of bariatric surgery. Very low-energy diets (VLED) typically involve taking in ≤ 800 calories per day and include meal replacements (bars and shakes) to ensure all essential nutrient requirements are met.
