ZOE Science & Nutrition Forget crash diets: How to maintain a healthy weight | Alan Aragon & Prof. Sarah Berry
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Aug 14, 2025 
Alan Aragon, a fitness nutrition expert with over 30 years of experience, joins Professor Sarah Berry, ZOE’s Chief Scientist, to discuss sustainable weight loss. They debunk the myth of crash diets, emphasizing that personalized nutrition and macronutrient targets are key. Learn about the 'YOLO margin'—a concept that encourages indulging in your favorite foods within a balanced diet. They explore the importance of protein, the impact of sleep on weight management, and offer strategies for making fitness an enjoyable part of life.
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Why We're Getting Heavier
- Sedentary lifestyles, labour-saving tech and using food for comfort drive weight gain.
- Many people also misunderstand that fat loss requires a sustained caloric deficit.
Carnivore Diet Example
- Alan picked the carnivore diet as his 'favourite' fad to mock and explain.
- He admits meat can help some but criticises discarding plant foods and overall health trade-offs.
Why Keto Often Succeeds — And Fails
- Low-carb or keto works mainly because it cuts highly palatable, calorie-dense foods and often raises protein intake.
- Severe carb restriction is unsustainable for most people and quality of fat sources matters for long-term health.
