What is the Volumetrics Diet and Will it Work? The Volumetrics Diet was created by nutritionist Barbara Rolls, PhD. The basis of the Volumetrics Diet is that it allows people to eat a greater volume of food by eating less calorie-dense foods. These foods will fill up a lot of space in the stomach, making a person feel fuller for longer, but will not contain many calories, thus leading to weight loss. These low-density foods include many non-starchy vegetables such as lettuce, spinach, greens, broccoli, and cauliflower; very lean protein such as fish, chicken breasts, and egg whites; and foods high in water content such as fat free milk, and chicken broth.

This diet encourages consumption of a large green salad (without cheese, meat, or high-fat dressing), or a cup of fat free, broth based soup with vegetables before a meal in order to fill the stomach up with low calorie foods before eating, thus reducing calorie consumption.

Energy-dense foods high in fat and sugar such as high-fat meats, candy, breads, and alcohol, are still allowed on the Volumetrics Diet, but only if eaten sparingly. The Volumetrics Diet does work to promote weight loss. The diet works on the basic principal that consuming less calorie-dense foods high in fiber and water content will keep your stomach fuller for longer, leading to reduced calorie consumption.