Weight-loss diets that keep your heart happy

Many diets can help you shed pounds. Choose one you can stick with forever that features plenty of heart-healthy foods.

Most people who've lost weight and kept it off for years will tell you that sticking to your new eating pattern is key for long-term success. Yes, you can still have a cheat meal of your old favorites once in a while. But unless you make a permanent shift away from the habits that led to your weight gain in the first place, you'll probably end up regaining the weight you've lost. It's an all-too-common problem, as evidenced by the rising trend of overweight and obesity in this country.

But with so many weight-loss diets to choose from, how do you decide which eating strategy may work best for you, without harming your cardiovascular health? Dr. Deirdre Tobias, assistant professor of nutrition at Harvard's T.H. Chan School of Public Health, says people should be cautious about diets that restrict a specific category of food (such as carbohydrates, fats, or even animal products) without focusing on the overall quality of the foods.