The Volumetrics Eating Plan is based on a basic fact: people like to eat. And if people are given the choice between eating more and eating less, they'll take more almost every time.

Unlike diets that are based on deprivation, the Volumetrics diet doesn't try to fight this natural preference. Its creator, nutritionist Barbara Rolls, PhD, argues that limiting your diet too severely won't work in the long run. You'll just wind up hungry and unhappy and go back to your old ways.

To get some expert advice on Volumetrics, WebMD turned to three nutritionists who are all spokespeople for the American Dietetic Association (ADA). On the whole, they praised the diet's approach.

"It's a slam dunk," says Roberta Anding, MS, RD, a spokeswoman for the American Dietetic Association. "I think it's the best diet out there. I've used the same principles in my clinical practice and they really work."

"Volumetrics makes a lot of sense," agrees Rachel Brandeis, MS, RD, an ADA spokesperson. "It's based on healthy eating and Rolls has done a lot of good studies to back up her book."

But Lona Sandon, MS, RD, also a spokeswoman for the ADA, does worry that the fullness you get with a Volumetrics-approved meal might be fleeting.

"I think it's true that foods with a lot of water in them can make you feel full just after you've eaten," Sandon tells WebMD. "But the feeling might not last long. Water can empty out of your stomach quickly. I know that I might feel full right after a broth-based soup for dinner, but I feel pretty hungry a few hours later."

Brandeis points out that Volumetrics might not be the right diet for everyone. "I'm not sure if people who have trouble overeating will be able to use this plan on their own," she tells WebMD. "The whole concept of satiety can be subjective, and some people learn how to keep eating after they already feel full."

Anding points out that hunger isn't the only reason people eat. Many eat for comfort or simply out of habit even when they're not hungry -- like when they're watching TV or working at their desks. Relying on a full stomach to stop you from eating might not be enough. You'll need to change some of your behaviors, too.

Sandon says that the diet's emphasis on homemade food and recipes might be a sticking point for some.

"I think that the recipes look fine and sensible," says Sandon. "But many of the people who come to see nutritionists like me don't have the time to cook special recipes. We have to be realistic. A lot of people want to know what healthy things they can buy from the grocery store that are basically ready-to-eat."

As Sandon points out, Volumetrics can sometimes seem a little out of touch with everyday lives. Sure, a full cup of the Volumetrics strawberry trifle with lemon cream might be more satisfying than its caloric equivalent, a couple of crummy, store-bought chocolate-chip cookies. But the problem is that you have to shop for the ingredients and make the trifle. The cookies are available at the corner store or the vending machine down the hall.

"If we all had personal chefs, these diets would be a lot easier," Sandon tells WebMD.

All in all, the Volumetrics diet plan is a well-researched and sound approach to weight loss. It doesn't make any big promises and urges you to go slowly. Admittedly, following the meal plans -- which are all Volumetric recipes -- will require a fair amount of time in the kitchen. Some people may be turned off by having to calculate energy densities and keep daily records. But for people who dedicate themselves, Volumetrics could prove a sensible and satisfying way to lose weight.

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