
Dr. Younan Nowzaradan, a renowned bariatric surgeon, developed the Dr. Now diet, a highly restrictive diet plan. The diet is designed for people with morbid obesity who are preparing for weight loss surgery. The primary goal of the diet is to initiate significant weight loss, improve surgery safety, and instill long-term healthy eating habits. The Dr. Now diet is based on three primary principles often referred to as FAT: frequency, amount, and type. The frequency refers to consuming only two to three meals a day with no snacks in between. The amount refers to limiting calorie intake to 1,200 calories a day. The type refers to consuming fiber- and protein-rich foods while restricting carbohydrates and fats.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Calorie intake | 1200 calories per day |
| Number of meals | 2-3 meals per day |
| Snacks allowed | No |
| Food types | High protein, low fat, low carbs, high vitamins, non-starchy vegetables, lean proteins, fruits in moderation |
| Prohibited food types | Sugary snacks, high-calorie fruits, processed foods, starchy vegetables, refined carbohydrates |
| Purpose | Weight loss, improving surgery safety, fostering discipline in eating habits |
| Target group | Obese individuals, patients preparing for weight loss surgery |
| Duration | Short-term, no longer than a month or two |
| Creator | Dr. Younan Nowzaradan |
| Side effects | Hunger, nutrient imbalances, slower metabolic rates, digestive issues |
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What You'll Learn

Who is Dr Now Nowzaradan?
Dr Younan Nowzaradan, also known as Dr Now, is an Iranian-born American doctor of Assyrian heritage, TV personality, and author. He was born on 11 October 1944 in Tehran, Iran, and graduated from the University of Tehran with a Doctor of Medicine degree in 1970. He then moved to the United States and participated in the Medical Orientation Program at Saint Louis University in 1971. He completed a Rotating Surgical Internship at St. John Hospital in Detroit.
Dr Nowzaradan specializes in vascular and bariatric surgery and is known for helping morbidly obese people lose weight. He is a strong advocate for laparoscopic surgery and believes that bariatric surgery can be performed using laparoscopic techniques. He is based in Houston, Texas, and practices at several local hospitals, including Houston Obesity Surgery.
Dr Nowzaradan gained fame through his reality television series "My 600-Lb. Life", which follows the lives of his patients who weigh more than 600 pounds, chronicling their journey leading up to, during, and following weight-loss surgery. He has also appeared on other TV shows, such as Body Shock, and published two books: "Last Chance to Live" (2017) and "The Scale Does Not Lie, People Do" (2019).
The Dr Now diet is a highly restrictive, low-calorie, low-carbohydrate diet developed by Dr Nowzaradan to help patients prepare for weight-loss surgery. The diet typically limits patients to around 1,200 calories per day, with a focus on consuming lean proteins, non-starchy vegetables, and specific fruits. It is designed to initiate significant weight loss, improve surgery safety, and instill long-term healthy eating habits.
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What is the Dr Now diet?
The Dr. Now Diet, also known as the Dr. Nowzaradan diet, was developed by Dr. Younan Nowzaradan, a renowned bariatric surgeon. Dr. Nowzaradan is best known for his work on the reality television show "My 600-lb Life", which follows the lives of his patients who weigh more than 600 pounds (272 kg) on their journey before, during, and after weight loss surgery.
The Dr. Now Diet is a highly restrictive, low-calorie, and low-carbohydrate diet. It restricts patients to a maximum of 1,200 calories per day, divided into two to three meals with no snacks in between. The diet emphasizes consuming fiber- and protein-rich foods while restricting carbohydrates, fats, and sugary drinks. It also focuses on portion control, encouraging patients to consume smaller portions and advising them to use smaller plates to help control serving sizes.
The diet is specifically designed for extremely obese individuals, often as a prerequisite to weight-loss surgery or bariatric surgery. The primary goal of the diet is to initiate significant weight loss, improve surgery safety, and instill long-term healthy eating habits. It is tailored to each patient's specific health needs and is closely monitored by medical professionals.
The Dr. Now Diet is not recommended for anyone other than bariatric surgery patients and should only be followed under the guidance of a medical professional. It is a short-term dietary program that may cause nutrient imbalances, slower metabolic rates, and digestive issues in some individuals.
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What foods can you eat?
Dr Now's diet sheet is a highly restrictive low-calorie, low-carbohydrate diet developed by Dr Younan Nowzaradan to help patients prepare for weight-loss surgery. The diet is tailored to each patient's specific health needs and is closely monitored by medical professionals. It is not recommended for anyone other than bariatric surgery patients.
The diet recommends eating two to three meals per day with no snacks in between. Calories are limited to 1,200 a day, divided into 400-calorie meals three times a day or 600-calorie meals twice a day. The diet emphasises consuming fibre- and protein-rich foods while restricting carbohydrates and fats.
Foods that can be eaten include lean proteins such as chicken, turkey, fish, and deli meat. Non-starchy vegetables are also recommended, and fruits can be included but in moderation due to their natural sugar content. Greek yoghurt without sugar is allowed, as are salads without dressing.
Dr Now's diet prohibits certain foods due to their high-calorie content. These include whole grains, nuts, fruits with high sugar content such as mangoes, watermelon, pears, cherries, cantaloupe, bananas, figs, and cherries. Processed foods, sugary snacks, high-calorie fruits, starchy vegetables, and refined carbohydrates are also excluded from the diet.
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What foods are prohibited?
Dr Now's diet sheet is a highly restrictive low-calorie, low-carbohydrate diet. It is designed to help people with obesity lose weight before bariatric surgery. The diet sheet is tailored to each patient's specific health needs and is closely monitored by medical professionals.
The diet sheet prohibits certain foods because of their high-calorie content. These include:
- Sugary snacks
- High-calorie fruits such as mangoes, watermelon, pears, cherries, cantaloupe, bananas, figs or cherries
- Processed foods
- Sugary drinks
- Starchy vegetables
- Refined carbohydrates
The diet sheet also emphasises portion control, with patients encouraged to consume smaller portions and advised to use smaller plates to help control serving sizes.
In addition, Dr Now's diet sheet does not allow snacking between meals.
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Who is the diet for?
Dr. Nowzaradan's diet plan, commonly known as the Dr. Now Diet, is a highly restrictive low-calorie, low-carbohydrate diet. The diet is designed for people with morbid obesity or severe obesity who are preparing for weight loss surgery. It is not recommended for anyone other than bariatric surgery patients and should only be followed under the guidance of a medical professional.
The Dr. Now Diet is based on three primary principles, often referred to as FAT: frequency, amount, and type. Under this diet, individuals are advised to consume only two to three meals a day, with no snacks in between. The amount of calories is restricted to 1,200 a day, divided into two 600-calorie meals or three 400-calorie meals.
The diet emphasizes consuming fiber- and protein-rich foods while restricting carbohydrates and fats. It includes lean proteins, such as chicken, turkey, fish, and various non-starchy vegetables. Fruits are allowed but in moderation due to their natural sugar content. Processed foods, sugary snacks, high-calorie fruits, starchy vegetables, and refined carbohydrates are excluded from the diet.
The Dr. Now Diet is tailored to each patient's specific health needs and is closely monitored by medical professionals. It is designed for short-term use in the lead-up to bariatric surgery and should not be followed for longer than a month or two. It is important to note that this diet can make individuals feel hungry, especially during the initial stages.
The Dr. Now Diet is not suitable for everyone and should only be attempted by people preparing for weight loss surgery or those at imminent risk of serious health concerns due to their weight. It is a stringent diet that requires a major reduction in caloric consumption and may cause nutrient imbalances, slower metabolic rates, and digestive issues in some individuals.
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Frequently asked questions
The Dr. Now diet is a highly restrictive diet plan designed by Dr. Younan Nowzaradan, a renowned bariatric surgeon. It is intended for people with morbid obesity who are preparing for weight loss surgery.
The Dr. Now diet is based on three primary principles, often referred to as FAT: Frequency, Amount, and Type. It involves consuming only two to three meals a day with no snacks, limiting calorie intake to 1,200 per day, and emphasising high-protein, low-carb, and low-fat foods.
The diet focuses on lean proteins such as chicken, turkey, fish, and non-starchy vegetables. Fruits are included but in moderation due to their natural sugar content. Greek yogurt without sugar is allowed as a snack.
The diet prohibits processed foods, sugary snacks and beverages, high-calorie fruits, starchy vegetables, refined carbohydrates, and excessive caffeine. It emphasises portion control and hydration with plenty of water.
The Dr. Now diet is specifically designed for individuals with morbid obesity who are preparing for weight loss surgery. It should only be followed under the supervision of a medical professional and is not recommended for the general public due to its restrictive nature.










































