[Personalized diet based on the assessment of caloric levels in the treatment of obesity].

The diet with individual evaluation of the "caloric level" consists in a severe hypocaloric diet (400-800 calories) gradually increased by 100-200 calories every 2-3 days in order to find the level at which the weight loss ceases. This level is usually far higher than that of a conventional diet. The final diet is then obtained by decreasing the intake again by 200 to 300 calories. These diets have been studied in hospitalized then ambulatory patients. 429 patients, some of whom have been followed for over six years, have been studied. The results show that, although the initial weight loss is less important than with a conventional diet, the long-term results are satisfactory in 2/3 of the patients. Patients are distributed equally into four groups according to the degree of weight loss: -10 to -15%, -15 to -20%, -20 to -30%, greater than -30%. Maintenance of the weight loss is as good or even better than with a conventional diet, but with a more liberal program.