Meal replacement soups and shakes: do they have a place in public health practice to manage weight loss?

摘要

Nine per cent of Australian adults report dieting to lose weight， and 49% of these describe their diets as ‘low calorie’.1 An online search for ‘low calorie/ energy diet products’ reveals many advertisements for commercially available low- and very low-energy meal-replacement (MR) products， including promotions for ‘soups and shakes’. Evidence supports low- and very lowenergy MRs as a successful strategy for weight loss in overweight and obese individuals.2，3 Australian clinical practice guidelines for overweight and obesity management include changing lifestyle behaviours and the use of very lowenergy diets as effective in supporting weight loss for overweight and obese adults.4 Considering the evidence supporting their use to reduce energy intake， MRs may be underutilised in weight loss management.5 Further， the role of their use in public health is unclear.