(WL) Fad Diets Lesson

Fad Diets

A fad diet is a diet that makes promises of weight loss or other health advantages such as longer life without backing of solid science.  Celebrity endorsements are frequently associated with fad diets and the individuals who develop and promote these programs often profit. A fad diet is a weight loss plan that is popular for a short period of time. They are often based on misinformation and do not help people develop healthful patterns of eating and physical activity for the long run.

Some fad diets over-restrict the amount and type of foods. The do not provide the nutrients and food energy needed for growth and health according to sources such as the Recommended Dietary Allowances. When people follow one fad diet after another, the weight they lose may be muscle. Without exercise, muscle may be replaced with fat. People on fad diets usually do not keep the lost weight off.

In America, weight is about to become a pandemic. People are trying to find a solution to deal with their weight and bring it to a manageable level. However, many adults find it hard to go for weight loss methods that require them to invest time into working out. Instead, they're being enticed by the fad diets and weight loss pills that offer promises of quick results by only dieting without any exercise. Weight cycling is a repeated pattern of losing and regaining body weight.

Examples of Fad Diets are included in the learning object below, as well as risky fad diets to avoid which can damage your health.

Explore each section in the tabs below to learn more.

•  All Liquid Diets
•  Fasting 
•  Diet Pills 
  
•  Risky Fad Diets 

All Liquid Diets

 

A low calorie, all liquid diet will not provide enough food, energy, nutrients and fiber so you may feel tired. It can also have other harmful effects.

 

 

Fasting

 

Denying your body food and fluids, even for a short period of time can mean your body will not get the nutrients and energy needed to function properly. Your body will use up some protein, which is stored in muscle for fuel. You also may become dehydrated.

 

Diet Pills

 

Diet pills can work to suppress your appetite, but they also can have harmful side effects such as drowsiness, anxiety, rapid heart rate, and addition.

 

Risky Fad Diets

 

Choose each diet type below to learn more.

    

Atkins Diet

    

       

 

The Atkins Diet is a popular low-carbohydrate eating plan that restricts carbohydrates while emphasizing protein and fats. It has several phases for weight loss and maintenance, starting out with a very low carbohydrate eating plan. The purpose of the Atkins Diet is to change your eating habits to help you lose weight and keep it off.

 

 

    

    

Gluten-free Diet

    

        

 

The diet is popular among health enthusiasts as it eliminates consumption of refined carbohydrates. However, since whole grains are also avoided there is a tendency to consume too much sugar along with a loss of essential nutrients and fiber.

 

 

    

Paleo Diet

    

       

The Paleo diet has been gaining quite a bit of traction in the past few years. This practice supports the consumption of fish, lean meats, fruit, non-starchy vegetables and nuts but starchy vegetables, dairy foods, grains, and processed foods are excluded. As with the Atkins diet nutrient deficiencies may occur due to the lack of whole grains and diary.

 

 

    

    

Raw Food Diet

    

        

Many vegans and vegetarians subscribe to a raw food diet purporting that essential nutrients are lost in any cooking process above 116 to 118° Fahrenheit. Although this may be true, the elimination of cooked foods may lead to loss of essential B vitamins and calcium and the absence of animal products can also leave you low on protein and iron.

 

    

    

Caloric Restriction Diet

    

       

 

This diet focuses on limiting dietary energy intake in the hope that it will improve health and retard aging.

 

    

    

Blood Type Diet

    

        

The Blood Type Diet claims that the foods you eat react chemically with your blood type. If you follow a diet designed for your blood type, your body will digest food more efficiently. Although this is not one of the most popular fad diets it is certainly one of the most intriguing.

 

 

 

    

    

Detox Diet

    

       

Ranging from fruit fasts, which cut out whole food groups to restricted short term diet plans that focus on eliminating caffeine, alcohol, salt, sugar, and process foods. You can expect to lose weight on such as diet because of the limited food choices.

 

 

 

    

    

Macrobiotic Diet

    

       

A Macrobiotic diet emphasizes whole grains, fruits, and vegetables but excludes dairy products, meats, and fatty foods. Although weight loss is achievable naysayers caution that this plan’s strict adherence to such a limited, organic regimen makes it difficult to maintain and can even lead to nutritional deficiencies.

 

 

    

 

Fad Diet Health Risks

A health risk is the likelihood of developing health problems, such as heart disease, diabetes, and some cancers.  Below are some health risk of fad diets.

• Downward spike in blood sugar
• Increase in cholesterol
• Increase blood pressure
• Higher risk of heart disease

A quick weight loss program might sound like a good idea at the time, but you'll soon discover that fad diets can be more dangerous to your health than beneficial to it.  Because they often cut out key foods, fad diets may cause the following symptoms:

Dehydration:  when trying to lose weight, remind yourself that water is your friend. To keep from overeating and to stay properly hydrated, drink one or two glasses before a meal. Also, if you exercise daily, you should increase your water intake.

Weakness and Fatigue: fad diets involve depriving yourself of calories, however, calories are what translate into energy your body needs to get through the day. If you fast or eat less than what your body requires, you'll find yourself feeling fatigued for most of the day.

Constipation: losing weight too quickly can lead to severe diarrhea, to be followed by constipation. As with losing water weight, having diarrhea over an extended period of time can lead to dehydration - a condition that can be life-threatening.

Malnutrition: crash diets restrict you from consuming fats and carbs but they are also unsafe since they prevent your body from getting the vitamins and minerals it needs.

Nausea and Headaches: extreme dieting can cause severe headaches and nausea.

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