Any Diet Will Do

Photo: lepiaf.geo/Flickr

Valerie Bertinelli and Marie Osmond shouldn't battle over which of their diets -- Weight Watchers or Jenny Craig -- is better, because it doesn't really matter what diet you do, according to RealAge. Make it high-carb, low-carb, Mediterranean or something altogether different and you'll likely see results -- as long as it's heart healthy, it cuts back on calories, and you stick with it.

In a study of four weight loss plans and the people who tried them, the amount of weight folks lost didn't differ much, even though their diets did. Why? Because the diets, although varied in amounts of carbs, fat and protein, were low in saturated fat and cholesterol and high in fiber. Plus, dieters reduced their calorie intake, and they also exercised for at least 90 minutes per week. Not only did they all lose weight -- they also experienced better cholesterol, blood pressure and triglyceride levels. Incidences of metabolic syndrome dropped too.

We say it all the time here: Losing weight is a function of eating less, burning more and getting your nutrients through whole foods. So don't fret so much about the "perfect" diet. Just find a healthy plan that suits you, commit to it and move your body most days of the week. We're confident it's a plan that works.