The Best Diet for Weight Loss

For the average weight-loss warrior, comparing diets is hard to do. Fortunately, a new study ran the numbers and found that, when it comes to weight lost, Paleo wins.

For the study, researchers from the Cardiovascular Associates of Virginia Beach split 280 overweight men and women into four diet camps: Paleo, vegan, Mediterranean, and DASH (Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension). After 60 days, the researchers found that Paleo dieters lost the most: 13.3 pounds (or 6.6 percent of their body fat) on average.

Before there was the Paleo diet, there were tapeworms and sleeping diets. See these and other trendy diets throughout history. 

MORE: 5 Tips for Going Paleo

But while Paleo made the biggest dent in the dieters' poundage, each healthy-eating strategy had its merits. For instance, veganism, which came in a close second with an average of 12.7 pounds lost, made the biggest improvements on the participants' cholesterol levels. And the DASH diet (which led to eight pounds lost) was the best at lowering triglyceride levels, a major risk factor for type 2 diabetes. The Mediterranean diet was at the back of the pack, contributing to a little less than five pounds lost. Womp womp. But, as far as diets go, it's pretty doable, so you might want to keep that one in mind for once you've lost the weight and just want to keep it off.

MORE: How to Become a Part-Time Vegan

In the end, the best diet is whichever one you'll actually stick with. After all, we don't all have scientists on our tails keeping us honest. So check out the six signs that your diet is too extreme, and find the right diet for you.

MORE: The Top 4 Times People Cheat on Their Diets

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