New Zealand

LED stands for "Low Energy Diet". VLCD stands for "Very Low Calorie Diet".

LED or VLCD have been shown to be very effective in the management of obesity, with weekly weight losses averaging approximately 1-2.5kg per week, providing greater initial weight loss than other forms of calorie restriction.

A LED is a low carbohydrate, total food replacement or meal replacement (depending on which step) for the dietary management of obesity. It is a nutritionally complete program providing 650-1500+ calories per day. It also contains the recommended daily requirements for vitamins (includes B12), minerals, trace elements, fatty acids and protein.

Reducing energy (calorie) intake to approx. 800 calories as well as reducing total carbohydrate intake leads to a whole body shift towards fat/lipid stores being utilised as the major source of energy, therefore resulting in a consistent and successful weight loss.

Treatment with LEDs has also been associated with improvements in:

• insulin sensitivity

• blood pressure

• triglycerides

• sleep apnoea

• blood sugar levels in adults (in prediabetes and Type 2 Diabetes) (Type 2 Diabetes DiRECT study)

• The Cambridge Weight Plan intensive step 1 (total diet replacement) is followed for a period of up to 12 weeks; this is then followed by a gradual re-introduction of food through the next 4 steps of the weight loss steps. This will not only teach your patients how to lose weight, it will also teach then how to make sustainable lifestyle changes that will help keep the weight off long term (Step 6 maintenance phase).