A Highly Effective Weight-Loss Diet Prescribed by the Nutrition Clinic at Peking University Third Hospital

Because my son was a bit overweight, I had long hoped he would slim down; I tried many methods, with little effect. The child was actually fairly cooperative. Earlier I had him exercise and lose weight with me—we often cycled over a hundred kilometers at a stretch, and he came along—but the results were not ideal. I also tried giving him weight-loss drugs such as mulberry twig total alkaloids, recommended by a friend who had lost over twenty kilograms on it; but it did not work for us.

Out of options, I thought I would take him to the nutrition clinic once the holidays arrived. Appointments at the nutrition departments of Beijing's Grade-A tertiary hospitals are also hard to get; half a month ago we finally managed to book a general outpatient slot at one campus of Peking University Third Hospital. I accompanied my son. The physician had a lovely, warm manner and refused to prescribe any medicine, instead advising us to change our diet—so the whole visit cost only the registration fee.

She asked us to try her diet plan; if it worked for weight loss, we should not use drugs. She also advised against adding extra exercise, saying our usual daily activity would be enough—because on her calorie plan we would not have the spare energy for additional workouts.

Her advice was as follows: control total daily energy intake to 1400 kcal. Suggested daily amounts and mealtimes:

Breakfast (8:00): 250 ml milk or 200 ml unsweetened yogurt (milk may be replaced by soy milk), one egg, plus 50g of staple food.

Lunch (13:00): 75g staple food, 75g lean meat (lean pork, beef, lamb, chicken, or duck), 300g low-starch vegetables, 8g vegetable oil.

Dinner (18:00): 50g staple food, 50g lean meat, 300g low-starch vegetables, 8g vegetable oil.

Snack (20:00): 200g of common fruit.

Do not eat nuts (including peanuts, sesame, and all kinds of seeds). Staple food may be chosen by preference—rice, noodles, corn, coarse grains, and so on. I am additionally supplementing vitamins B, C, and E.

We basically followed her plan; occasionally we went a little over on food, but not seriously. In about half a month, I lost 2 kg, my wife lost 1.5 kg, and my son lost 1.8 kg. My results were best because my self-discipline has always been strong and I executed it thoroughly, plus my usual activity level is higher than my wife's and child's. The mother and son sneaked a few snacks at school, but not many.

This weight-loss plan needs no diet pills and actually saves on groceries. Judging from our results, obesity is primarily related to dietary habits. We will continue the plan until our weight reaches the standard. Once you are used to it, eating this way is not unpleasant at all. The nutritionist advised us to return for a follow-up visit every time we lose 10 kg, and we will follow that advice.

After all, professionals have their specialty; for weight loss, the nutritionist really is the expert.