It's a battle of the TV doctors' diets. In one corner is Dr. Younan Nowzaradan of "My 600-lb Life" with his gastric bypass surgery diet. In the other, is Dr. Mehmet Oz, whose weight loss plan includes foods Dr. Now prohibits. Which physician is correct? It seems to depend on how much weight you need to lose and how you go about it.
Dr. Now forbids what Dr. Oz recommends
There are many similarities between the eating plans Dr. Now uses on "My 600-lb Life" and what Dr. Oz advocates for weight loss. But there is one crucial difference and it involves a major food group most people consider healthy.
Nowzaradan's bariatric surgery diet disallows fruit while Dr. Oz encourages it. In fact, most diets push fruits to burn fat. Kenya Crooks, trainer to Mama June of "From Not to Hot" advised her to swap fruit for sweets.
Are there better fruits?
Yes. Strawberries, blueberries and other berries are great fat-burners. They contain tiny seeds filled with fiber and MUFAS (monounsaturted fatty acids). Even Dr. Now calls for fiber, fatty acids and omega oils in place of transfat and saturated fats. Melon and apples are a fibrous system cleanse that hydrates and flushes out fat. Mama June and daughter Honey Boo Boo ate fruits to lose weight and satisfy sugar cravings. But there are drawbacks. Fruits are to some extent, empty carbs, adding bulk and sugar without hunger-taming protein or starch.
After gastric bypass surgery, skin removal plastic surgery, Mama June's smaller stomach requires mindful eating keep weigh off.
Why health gurus disagree on weight loss
Both doctors are recognized leaders in the field of weight loss. So why do they disagree? It could be their differing patient needs. On "My 600-lb Life" Dr. Nowzaradan treats morbid obesity in patients of 500 pounds and more (Sean Milliken weighed 900 pounds).
They need immediate and extensive weight loss and the 800-calorie and 1,000-calorie diets achieve that. Dr. Now requires patients to drop 50 pounds in a month prior to bariatric surgery. But he and Dr. Oz would agree that shedding many pounds quickly is only for emergencies, not "normally" overweight dieters who need to shed less weight.
Why gastric bypass diet prohibits fruit
Both Dr. Now and Dr. Oz aim to teach new eating habits and healthy weight loss over time. Both advocate a 1,200-calorie maintenance diet. Initially, "My 600-lb Life" reality television patients eat fewer calories to lose weight after gastric bypass surgery. They move to maintenance diet as they approach goal weight. However, their eating plans still differs from dieters who haven't had gastric bypass surgery. With an 80-percent smaller stomach, everything they eat must count. The benefits of fruit don't outweigh the lack of nutrition, sugar, extra carbs and glycemic bloating. In time, bariatric patients may be able to add some fruit but it should berries like Dr. Oz recommends.
