Many people who lose weight tend to regain it over time. That circle of losing weight and regaining trigger obesity and it is threatening adults and children throughout Europe. There are some important studies against that threat. The EC funded Diogenes project directed by Professor Arne Astrup from the Faculty of Life Sciences at University of Copenhagen has conducted the largest European dietary intervention study among more than 400 families in eight European countries. The study deals with that important problem.

One of the main focuses of the Diogenes study is to find out the most powerful diet to help adults keep weight loss off.

Before the whole family was involved into the dietary intervention part of the study and randomized to one of five diets, adult family members participated in the Diogenes study were asked to lose as a minimum 8% of their body weight.

763 adult participants were successful and they lost a total of 8500 kg which is equal to the weight of 4 completely matured elephants. Each participant lost 11.2 kg on average.

565 families (763 adults and 787 children) were randomly selected among those adult participants who successfully completed weight loss phase and those families were asked to follow either a high or low in protein or high or low in glyceamic index foods diet.

Supermarkets in two centers, Copenhagen and Maastricht, prepared for the study supplied families with free of charge food for 6 months. They also provided dietary help and support for 6 months. There were 6 other centers in UK, Bulgaria, Crete, Czech Republic, Germany & Spain and they provided dietary help and support for 6 months.

Professor Arne Astrup, from the Faculty of Life Sciences at University of Copenhagen and co-ordinator of the 8-country dietary intervention study states that  "This Diogenes research study mainly aims to discover methods for keeping off weight after initial weight loss". Professor Arne Astrup conducted 4 other researched besides that one.  When we are determined, we can lose weight but we are not very successful at preventing ourselves from regaining it.

Professor Astrup continues:"The Diogenes study brought us important data on how successful each diet has been in keeping weight off in each country. European consumers will find out answers for the most successful dietary method."

Executive Director of the entire Diogenes project, Professor Wim Saris says: "Preliminary results from Diogenes dietary intervention study will be released at the European Congress of Obesity (ECO) (14 May 2008). The entire project results will be available on 5/6 May 2009 as part of ECO."