While Nutrition science is kind of a joke and you can find papers supporting any position, this is a summary of "Long-term weight-loss maintenance: a meta-analysis of US studies":
>People on a very low energy diet (VLED) were more successful at dieting that people on a hypocaloric balanced diet (HBD) which is basically a normal diet with slightly lowered calories to allow for weight loss. The average weight-loss maintenance on a VLED was about 15 pounds (29% of the total weight they had lost), compared to about 4.5 pounds (only 17% of the total weight they had lost) on a HBD. Basically, very low energy diets result in more weight loss and you’re likely to keep more of it off.
>People on a very low energy diet (VLED) were more successful at dieting that people on a hypocaloric balanced diet (HBD) which is basically a normal diet with slightly lowered calories to allow for weight loss. The average weight-loss maintenance on a VLED was about 15 pounds (29% of the total weight they had lost), compared to about 4.5 pounds (only 17% of the total weight they had lost) on a HBD. Basically, very low energy diets result in more weight loss and you’re likely to keep more of it off.
Study itself:
https://academic.oup.com/ajcn/article/74/5/579/4737391
Summary quote from:
http://gregnuckols.com/2013/06/04/slow-and-steady-weight-los...
Whose generally has good reputation in the science based fitness circles.
Personally, I endorse this method.