Fad diets are weight loss plans that guarantee reduction of one’s weight in a short period of time. These diets are so popular since all fed on the social perception that beauty is equated with a thin body. Most are also promoted by celebrities who provide testimonies on the slimming power of their diets.
Fad diets constitute a billion dollar industry in the U.S. though nutritionists and experts had already expressed doubts on the long-term efficacy of these programs. Let’s take a look on several of the more popular ones and examine just what the fuss is all about.
Probably one of the most touted fad diet programs in recent history is the one promoted by the physician Atkins. It is a diet based on the lowered intake of carbohydrates and increased consumption of protein-rich food. This fad diet uses the process of ketosis in achieving reduced weight. Ketosis happens when reduced intake of carbohydrates induces the body to burn fat reserves for energy. This condition leads to reduced hunger and ultimately, weight loss. All the follower has to do is avoid food rich in carbohydrates such as grains and pasta and eat only food high in protein.
A fad diet with similar premise is The Zone diet which centers on the claim that the hormone insulin is released after eating carbohydrates and promotes weight gain. This diet program advocates eating food in apportioned blocks during established times of the day. It promotes that eating proper combination of food, approximately 40% carbohydrates, 30% protein, and 30% fat will lead to a state of peak performance (termed The Zone) where the body experience decreased hunger and weight loss.
The Pritkin Principle diet, however, focuses on limiting your caloric intake and eating food with high liquid content such as fruits, soups, vegetables, and oatmeal. Though it advocates food low in fats, this kind of diet may also restrict your calcium intake.
On the other hand, the diet promoted by Dr. Dean Ornish emphasizes on a lifestyle that would help reverse heart disease. He recommends eating food low on fats and carbohydrates. The program also suggest on doing exercise to accompany the diet.
The Volumetrics Weight-Control Plan does not restrict the amount of food eaten. Instead, it advocates watching the kind of food you eat and advises on eating low-density food like non-starchy vegetables, non-fat milk, and soup broths. It also suggests on avoiding what is considered as high-density food like chocolate and nuts which has high amount of fat in it. The program also encourages its followers to keep records on the kind of food eaten as well as the amount of physical activity made.
There are also several herbal remedies and diet pills available in the market that offer the same result with less time and hassle. However, accompanying controversies also surround these products like Hydroxycut and Dexatrim as they can cause adverse reactions in some individuals. Also offered in the market are liquid diets such as Slim Fast and the Cambridge Diet food replacements.
None of these diets had ever proven long-term effectiveness so for nutritionists and other health experts, good old physical exercise still beats all these fad diets in terms of achieving and maintaining your ideal weight.