Fad diets can be enticing, especially to those who struggle with weight loss or want to lose weight fast. While diets that promise fast weight loss may actually work, these types of diets usually require dramatic changes and hard to follow restrictions while providing only temporary results.
How Fad Diets Work
Although there are a variety of fad diets on the market to choose from, these diets essentially work the same way: Dieters avoid certain foods or whole food groups or focus mainly on one food in particular (think the Cabbage Soup or Grapefruit Diet). All restrict food in some form, thereby restricting calories (sometimes severely), which is why fad dieters often lose weight quickly. Fad dieting may not be a problem for people who are otherwise healthy; however, fad diets are not a permanent solution to weight loss.
Drawbacks of Fad Dieting
Fad dieting may seem like a good way to lose weight fast, but there are potential disadvantages of using a fad diet for weight loss.
- A fad diet can cause quick weight loss; however, results are most likely temporary and the weight will be regained when the diet is stopped. Oftentimes even more weight is gained than what was initially lost. Also, when weight is lost quickly, it is usually water weight and muscle, not fat.
- Fad diets do not address how to make healthy food choices, which is crucial to long-term weight loss and weight maintenance after loss.
- Fad diets lack both the essential and protective nutrients that come from food. While in the short-term, this may not be a problem, those who deny their bodies of much needed vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants for long periods of time may face serious health consequences from fad dieting later on.
- Those using a fad diet to lose weight may experience hunger, stomach pains, nausea, and light-headedness, especially when calories are severely restricted.
- Avoiding entire food groups or drinking only liquids soon becomes monotonous, making a fad diet hard to stick with it.
How to Lose Weight Safely and Permanently
The first step to lasting weight loss is to rid oneself of the mindset that there is some magic potion or quick fix to permanent weight loss. While fad diets may provide short-term results, those who want to lose weight in a healthy way and for the long-term need to make lifestyle changes that encompass healthy food choices, reasonable portion sizes, frequent exercise, and eating in moderation those foods that aren't conducive to weight loss.
References:
American Heart Association. (2009). "Quick-Weight-Loss or Fad Diets."
Strange, C. (2006). "Can Fad Diets Work?"
WebMD, LLC. (2008). "The Truth About Fad Diets." Accessed October 9, 2009 from WebMD.com.
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