FAD DIETS

GENERAL CLASSIFICATIONS OF WEIGHT LOSS/ KEEPING FIT DIETS:

1. Liquid diets – not sustainable due to low caloric value as well as risk for
nutrient deficiencies

2. Prepackaged diets – useful for short term weight loss, often very
expensive that do not have long term success rates

3. Food restrictive diets – fad diets reduced intake

4. Nondieting approaches – focuses on eating in response to physical

hunger and satiety cues rather than solely on knowledge of what to eat

5. Behavior modification – focus on personal eating habits

 FAD DIETS
- simply a weight loss diet that becomes very popular (often quickly) and
then may fall out of favour (sometimes just as quickly)
- other textbooks use fad type diets interchangeably with crash diets, usually
nutritionally inadequate.

- available in book form, magazines, on-line, and on TV. Each one promises
better cures than the next with huge weight losses in short time.
(Pennington Biomedical Research Center)
 HOW TO RECOGNIZE A FAD DIET

1. Promise quick weight loss.

2. Limit food selections and dictate specific rituals.

3. Use testimonials from famous people

- (Pennington Biomedical Research Center)
 HOW TO RECOGNIZE A FAD DIET

4. They bill themselves as cure-alls.

5. They often recommend expensive supplements.

6. No attempts are made to change eating habits

- (Pennington Biomedical Research Center)
permanently.
 HOW TO RECOGNIZE A FAD DIET

7. Use scientific jargon and terms.

8. They are generally critical and skeptical about

the scientific community.

- (Pennington Biomedical Research Center)

TYPES OF FAD DIETS:

MACRONUTRIENT RESTRICTIONS
Low or Restricted-Carbohydrate Approaches
Low-Fat Approaches

NOVELTY DIETS
 TYPES OF FAD DIETS:
LOW OR RESTRICTED CARBOHYDRATE APPROACHES

Most common form of fad diet

How it
works • The brain requires glucose for normal
functioning.

• Glucose is made from tissue proteins.

• This leads to protein tissue loss.

 TYPES OF FAD DIETS:
LOW OR RESTRICTED CARBOHYDRATE APPROACHES

• Dieter loses weight very rapidly with the loss of

Why carbohydrates and fluids.
you
lose • Work in the short run because of limited food
weight intake.
on it
• Reduced eating due to limited selection.
• On normal diet fluids are restored and the
weight is regained.
 PROBLEMS
WITH LOW OR RESTRICTED
CARBOHYDRATE APPROACHES

• The plan lacks: fruits, vegetables, and whole

grains. – dehydration, constipation
Problems

• Not intended for long-term use.

• The plan includes excessive intake of animal
fats.
• Individuals experience reduced exercise
capacity due to limited carbohydrate intake.
 PROBLEMS
WITH LOW OR RESTRICTED
CARBOHYDRATE APPROACHES
• Metabolic Due to use of body’s own stores of
consequences carbohydrates and protein.
• Results in initial weight loss.
Metabolic

• Ketosis effect
• Ketones are acidic, can accumulate, leading to acid/base
imbalance
• Can lead to gout, kidney stones & bad breath

• This is extremely stressful and forces the brain to alter

its metabolism.
PROBLEMS
WITH LOW OR RESTRICTED CARBOHYDRATE APPROACHES
• Can lead to such serious health problems such as kidney stress, liver
disorders, and gout.

• These diets also increase the risk for:

• Coronary heart disease
• Diabetes
• Stroke
• Several types of cancer
 RECENT FINDS

• Typical Atkins Diet can contain up to 59% fat and

provides significantly fewer servings of grains, vegetables,
and fruit than recommended by the U.S. Dietary
Guidelines.

• Very low-carbohydrate diet increases the risk for kidney

stone formation and the potential for bone loss
contributing to osteoporosis.
INCREASED PROTEIN

Amino Acids Nitrogen

Ammonium (NH3) Ammonia (NH2)

Calcium Urea

Urine
 RECENT FINDS:
FROM THE AMERICAN HEART ASSOCIATION

• According to the AHA, restricting carbohydrate levels can

increase the risk of heart disease, high cholesterol, diabetes,
stroke, and certain kinds of cancer.
RECENT FINDS:
FROM THE AMERICAN HEART ASSOCIATION

• Most of these plans greatly exceed the AHA’s dietary

guidelines of 15-20% protein and only 10% saturated
fats daily.

• 68% of the calories in the overall diet come from fat

with 26% coming from saturated fat on the Atkins'
Diet
RECENT FINDS:
FROM THE AMERICAN KIDNEY FUND

• High-protein diets can cause scarring in the kidneys.

• Dehydration forces the kidneys to work harder to clean

toxins from the blood.
 RECENT FINDS:
FROM THE AMERICAN INSTITUTE FOR CANCER RESEARCH
AND THE WORLD CANCER RESEARCH FUND

• Diets high in saturated fat increase the risk of

prostate, breast , and colon cancer.

• High-protein diets are low in protective dietary

fiber, which lowers the risk of lung, oral, esophageal,
stomach, and colon cancer.
fad diet Brief description Pros Cons

 gained extreme popularity  scientific research does  many reports of scams

Acai since being promoted on support some of the health selling inferior products &
Berry Oprah Show. claims. billing customers for ‘free
 w/ high antioxidants: can trials’ of products.
Diet  No specific acai berry diet, reduce risk of diseases  unsubstantiated wt loss
dieters use acai berry in commonly associated with effects of berries
conjunction any other aging: CVD, Ca  does not encourage dieters
weight loss plan  beneficial for dieters who a lifestyle change 
are physically active, supports idea of a quick fix
neutralizes free radicals approach to wt loss.
 often paired with a colon produced during exercise.  expensive.
cleansing product or with  many dieters reported a  cannot be relied on as sole
other nutritional reduction in appetite & factor
ingredients used to greater energy levels.
enhance weight loss.
fad Brief description
diet
Atkins  although written in the 1970s, Atkins Diet
Revolution only in early 2000.
 four phases – all with a carefully
controlled level of carbohydrate intake:
because it upholds: sugar causes cancer.
This is used to attract dieters to Atkins
1. Restrictive induction phases lasts for
minimum of 2 weeks, calls for a max of 20
gms of CHO intake (no starchy vegetables,
fruits, grains, bread).
2. Ongoing Weight Loss phase involves
adding more fibrous vegetables
(carbohydrates) until the “Critical
Carbohydrate Level for Losing” is reached
3&4. Maintenance phases – CHO intake can
be increased – but only until the point that
weight is maintained
Pros Cons
 very successful  diet demanding at first – and
for many people need to make significant
and has resulted behaviour modification
in not only  most controversial issues with
significant Atkins is that it is high-fat diet
weight loss – but  question how healthy the
also health process of ketosis is: breakdown
improvement of fats  risk for heart disease
 may lead to rapid weight
fluctuations  adverse affect on
heart
 nothing about this plan
encourages dieter to learn basic
weight management strategies
like portion control and serving
sizes or even balanced nutrition
fad Brief description Pros Cons
diet
Banan  by Hitoshi Watanabe who  eating breakfast every day increases  some dieters may
a Diet studied preventative metabolism & reduce likelihood of not respond well to a
medicine & pharmacist overeating later that day. pure CHO breakfast
wife, Sumiko (hypoglycemic).
 avoiding caffeine at breakfast  more
 Morning Banana Diet stable blood glucose levels & reduced  easy to consume
promoted on Japanese appetite. excess calories if
social networking site ‘Mixi’ they eat whatever
in March 2008  resulted  not eating after 8pm will reduce tendency they like after bfast.
in a nationwide banana for late night snacking on high calorie foods.
shortage  does not encourage
 avoiding dairy products & dessert will exercise.
 eating only bananas and reduce calories by limiting fat & sugar
drinking room T water for intake.  does not address
breakfast for wt loss psychological factors
regardless of what is  nutritious food, high fiber, vitamins B6, C &K involved in dieting.
consumed for rest of the
day
fad Brief description Pros Cons
diet
Cabba  7 day meal plan, aimed at  fast weight loss.  some complain that the
ge achieving fast weight loss Cabbage Soup a little too
Soup bland.
Diet  change from some of our
 diet is not sustainable but normally junky eating
continues to fall in and out habits can be beneficial,  be prepared for gas…
favor. many say they enjoy
eating the soup
 requires will power.

 vegetables from the

 lacks good nutrition
Brassica family (such as
cabbage, broccoli,
 high in salt.
cauliflower) have been
found to aid in preventing
 not a long-term answer
cancer.
 fad Brief description Pros Cons
diet
Nega  based on a concept with little  any diet  unlikely that any diet
tive science to back it up. consisting of consisting of a certain
Calor  fibrous complex carbohydrate large group of foods will have
ie
diet - green vegetables are low portions of any ‘magical’ properties
Diet
in calories vegetables
 uses TEF  green vegetables will aid in
may actually have some of their weight loss
calories burnt up just to digest
them
 fad Brief description Pros Cons
diet
New  there are four stages in the digestive process:  em  Ms. Mazel (diet’s
Beve digestion, absorption, metabolism, elimination pha author) has no
rly  maximize your weight loss utilizing more sis health or nutrition
Hills
effective and efficient digestion through on credentials
Diet
conscious/ cautious combining frui  opposite is true!
 indigestion = weight gain: certain types of ts if foods are not
foods that are not digested  stored as properly digested
glycogen or are turned into fat for storage in  cannot be
the tissues of the body. absorbed
 better digestion results in:
1. reduction of gas and bloating
2. optimization of nutrient absorption
3. increased energy
4. elimination of post-meal fatigue
fad Brief description
diet
Low very popular during the
Fat 1980s and 1990s.
diet health authorities have
been saying that a low fat
diet is best:
Low Fat – 20-30% of calories
come from fats
Very Low Fat – 0-19% of
calories come from fats.
Pros Cons
 modern research is
beginning to show
that fat in our diet
may not be the sole
culprit for obesity
problems
 fad Brief description Pros Cons
diet
Low  experienced a huge surge in popularity  the lower the CHO
Carb during 2003-2004 - but interest began to ratio – the higher
diet decline towards the end of 2004. the fat and protein
 there is considerable ambiguity over exactly ratio
what is low carbohydrate:
high CHO 50-70%
moderate CHO 40-50%
low CHO 25-39%
very Low CHO 0-25%
 common experts belief is that any diet less
than 50-60% carb ratio is called a low carb diet.
 generally lumped with other diets: atkins,
protein power, south beach diet, zone diet,
fat flush
fad Brief description Pros Cons
diet
3 many incarnations of 3  3  weight loss is due
Day day diet floating standard to a sudden drop
diet around. meals in calories, but
popular due to the provided most will be from
promise of instant without water loss
gratification snacks
low calorie diet -
nothing magical nor
mystical chemical
reaction
fad Brief description Pros Cons
diet
Zon many consider the Zone  good thing about  it is too
e diet to be a fad diet - the Zone diet is complex to
Diet however this diet continues that it encourages follow
to remain popular with a combination of  exercise is
many. all the nutrients in not part of
follows a formula of 40% each meal the formula
carbs, 30% protein, and  stresses the risks
30% fats (sometimes of processed
called 40:30:30) carbohydrates
(white pastas and
breads etc)
 fad Brief description Pros Cons
diet
Prote  directive to  provide sound starting  name is misleading. 60 g
in consume 25 g fiber points for weight loss: CHON is just approximate
Powe daily + maintaining physical exam, setting to the RDA
r
low carb diet + 60 realistic objectives  impossible to ↑ fiber + ↓
g protein (involves fat CHO: most high fiber foods
 blame insulin for: percentages and have significant amounts of
HPN, heart IBW), relying on CHO
disease, elevated internal perceptions  scientific evidence suggests
cholesterol, rather than bathroom that being obese  high
diabetes scale, keeping food insulin levels. Not the other
diary, drinking lots of way around
water
fad Brief description Pros Cons
diet
South  created by cardiologist Dr Arthur Agatston based at Mount Sinai  focus on  more expensive
Beach Hospital – in South Florida glycemic index food items
Diet  book ‘The South Beach Diet: The Delicious, Doctor-Designed,  nutritionally included 
Foolproof Plan for Fast and Healthy Weight Loss’ has remained a sound: difficult to meet
bestseller (despite a pretentious subtitle) principles of for some
 continues to be one of the biggest selling diet books of all time  eating in (unfortunately
enthusiasm for the diet has not yet faded (it may be unfair to call balance, little- good nutritious
this a fad) and-often, low- foods do tend to
 3 phases: GI carbs are all cost more than
1. Induction phase - generally producing weight loss of 8 to 13 pounds included in the their highly-
- most carbohydrates (such as rice, pasta, and South Beach processed
breads) must be avoided  had a major counterparts)
- for 14 days: three meals a day and snacks — positive impact
eating until your hunger is satisfied (meats, shellfish, chicken, turkey,
on the eating
and fish are all on the menu – along with nuts, cheese (fat-free), eggs,
salads, and vegetables) habits of
1. Second phase – some foods avoided in phase 1 are reintroduced millions 
sparingly unfairly
- 1-2 lbs per week weight loss classified as fad
1. Third phase - about living the lifestyle more than a phase diet
– it’s about eating healthy foods, and maintaining
weight.
fad Brief description
diet
Tapew  ingesting tapeworms in order to lose
orm weight is not only a radical method but
Diet also an extremely dangerous one.
 it is not possible to attempt the Tapeworm
diet in most countries, it is being offered
at some places in Mexico
 given beef tapeworm cysts that have been
identified microscopically this is vitally
important because some cows may host
pig tapeworms, which are very dangerous
 tapeworm: interferes with digestion &
absorption of nutrients  consume more
calories & still lose weight
Pros Cons
 weight loss is  extremely dangerous  cause
very likely. unpleasant side effects (swollen
 some scientists stomach) and in some cases can
believe that be lethal.
tapeworms can  does not appear to be adequate
also help to protection for consumers in
alleviate regard to regulation and safety
allergies such as analysis.
hay fever  parasite also competes for
vitamins and other important
nutrients  may result in a
nutritional deficiency
 rebound weight gain is most
likely once the tapeworm is
expelled.
 not available in most countries
 treatment is expensive and
will also need to include travel
expenses
fad Brief description Pros Cons
diet
 TYPES OF FAD DIETS:
LOW FAT

• Less than 20% of energy comes from fat, usually only 5-10%.

• There is limited (or elimination of) animal protein sources;

also all fats, nuts, and seeds.

• Dieters eat primarily grains, fruit, and vegetables, which most people
cannot do for a very long time.

• Eventually, the individual wants some foods higher in fat or protein.

PROBLEMS:
WITH LOW FAT DIET PLANS

• Little satiety

• Flatulence

• Possibly poor mineral absorption from excess dietary

fiber

• Limited food choices sometimes leading to

deprivation

• The diet is much lower in fat than a typical American

diet.
 EXAMPLES OF:
LOW FAT DIET PLANS

• The Rice Diet Report • Two Day Diet

• The Pritikin Diet • Complete Hip and Thigh Diet
• Eat More, Weigh Less • The Maximum Metabolism
Diet
• The 35+ Diet • The Pasta Diet
• 20/30 Fat and Fiber • G-Index Diet
• Fat to Muscle Diet • Lean Bodies
• T-Factor Diet • Outsmarting the Female Fat
Cell
• Fit or Fat
• The Macrobiotic Diet (some
versions)
OTHER DIETS
MODERATE CALORIE RESTRICTION:
GENERAL OVERVIEW

• Usually 1000-1800 kcal per day, with a moderate

fat intake
• Reasonable balance of macronutrients
• Encourages exercise
• May use behavioral approach
• Acceptable if vitamin and mineral supplement is
used and permission of family physician is
granted
 EXAMPLES:
MODERATE CALORIE RESTRICTION

• The Setpoint Diet • Living Without Dieting

• Slim Chance in a Fat World
• Weight Watcher’s Diet
• Mary Ellen’s Help Yourself Diet Plan
• The Beyond Diet
• Staying Thin
• The Calloway Diet
• Volumetrics
• Lose the Last 10 pounds
• Dieting with the Duchess
• Dieting for Dummies
• The Wedding Dress Diet
• Dr. Shapiro’s Picture Perfect Diet
VERY LOW CALORIE DIETS
GENERAL OVERVIEW

• Less than 800 kcal per day

• Also known as protein-sparing modified

fasts

• Must be under close physician scrutiny

VERY LOW CALORIE DIETS
GENERAL OVERVIEW

• Used for fast weight loss under doctor’s

supervision to get ready for surgery, for
example.
VERY LOW CALORIE DIETS:
PROBLEMS

• Organ tissue losses- especially from the heart

• Low blood potassium could lead to heart failure

• Expensive to follow

• Potential for kidney stones with rapid weight loss

• Potential for Gout

EXAMPLES:
OF VERY LOW CALORIE DIETS

Optifast
Ultrafast

Cambridge Diet
Thin So Fast
HMR
FORMULA DIETS:
GENERAL OVERVIEW

• Can help people who cannot regulate

portion sizes

• Based on formulated or packaged

products
PROBLEMS:
WITH FORMULA DIETS

• No change in habits are observed.

• Possibly leading to increased chance of relapse

• Expensive

• Often leading to constipation

 PRE-MEASURED DIETS:
GENERAL INFORMATION

• Most food supplied in pre-measured servings takes

much of the decision making out of the process of
eating.

• Expensive

• May not allow for easy sound eating later

EXAMPLES
OF PRE-MEASURED DIET

Jenny Craig
NutriSystem
Health Management Resources
NO NEED FOR A FAD DIET, JUST STICK TO THIS
SIMPLE EQUATION
• Weight loss can be reduced to a simple equation that weighs daily calories
in versus calories out.
• Exercise increases the
calories you burn.
• Portion control and wise
choices limit the
calories you consume.
A HEALTHY, EFFECTIVE DIET…

• Does not require fasting

• Focuses on fiber
• Encourages physical activity
• Promotes long term results
• Doesn’t cause chronic hunger
• Won’t eliminate groups of foods or have rules about combining foods