Quick-fix weight loss programs abound, making claims of easy, no-fail weight loss. Some are yo-yo diets where you put the weight back on when you stop the diet, some severely restrict caloric intake, and still others proclaim the superiority of one particular food item or group.
Generally speaking, no "miracle diets" exist. Some dieting fads consider fluid loss equivalent to weight loss, but little actual fat is lost. Many actually put your health at risk. Below is a list of some of the better-known fad diets, along with some warnings about each.
The Atkins Diet
Atkins allows large amounts of fat and protein to be consumed, while severely restricting carbohydrates. Most pastas, fruits and breads are restricted. When the human body cannot …show more content…
Meant for short-term use, the Hollywood diet is essentially a two day fast. Its results are, at best, temporary.
The Grapefruit Diet
This fad is based on the assumption that grapefruit contains fat-burning enzymes. You eat half a grapefruit before every meal, and calorie intake is usually restricted to around 800 calories a day. This is a dangerously low amount, especially when combined with the program's suggestion that you drink large amounts of caffeine-based drinks. Scientifically, no fat-burning enzymes have ever been found in grapefruit.
The Cabbage Soup Diet
This is another weight-reducing program designed for short-term use. On the cabbage soup diet, only cabbage soup is eaten for a week. The end result is, supposedly, a loss of ten to fifteen pounds. The soup recipe used for the cabbage soup diet cannot provide the body with all the nutrients it needs, and many people report feeling weak and lightheaded after a few days.
The 3 Day …show more content…
Foods allowed are restricted, and the body tends to lose water rather than fat. The 3 Day Diet is not meant to be used for longer than three days, and the lost weight quickly returns.
The Scarsdale Diet
Claiming a pound a day weight loss, the Scarsdale diet is very low in carbohydrates and certain vitamins and minerals. It claims to work on chemical reactions in the body. The Scarsdale diet recommends the use of herbal appetite suppressants, which can aggravate heart problems in people with existing heart conditions.
The Zone Diet
Another low carbohydrate/high fat diet, the Zone diet aims at a breakdown of 40 percent carbohydrates, 30 percent protein, and 30 percent fat in each meal. Planning meals on the Zone is highly frustrating. Low levels of carbohydrates, fiber and certain vitamins and minerals can occur when following the Zone.
Identifying Fad Diets
Watch for diets that severely restrict or advocate one food group.
Be wary of scientific-sounding claims made without scientific backing.
Avoid "quick fixes." Claims of rapid weight loss are clear warning signs.
Watch for large claims based on small evidence.
Be suspicious of programs that appear to rely on "chemical
Generally speaking, no "miracle diets" exist. Some dieting fads consider fluid loss equivalent to weight loss, but little actual fat is lost. Many actually put your health at risk. Below is a list of some of the better-known fad diets, along with some warnings about each.
The Atkins Diet
Atkins allows large amounts of fat and protein to be consumed, while severely restricting carbohydrates. Most pastas, fruits and breads are restricted. When the human body cannot …show more content…
Meant for short-term use, the Hollywood diet is essentially a two day fast. Its results are, at best, temporary.
The Grapefruit Diet
This fad is based on the assumption that grapefruit contains fat-burning enzymes. You eat half a grapefruit before every meal, and calorie intake is usually restricted to around 800 calories a day. This is a dangerously low amount, especially when combined with the program's suggestion that you drink large amounts of caffeine-based drinks. Scientifically, no fat-burning enzymes have ever been found in grapefruit.
The Cabbage Soup Diet
This is another weight-reducing program designed for short-term use. On the cabbage soup diet, only cabbage soup is eaten for a week. The end result is, supposedly, a loss of ten to fifteen pounds. The soup recipe used for the cabbage soup diet cannot provide the body with all the nutrients it needs, and many people report feeling weak and lightheaded after a few days.
The 3 Day …show more content…
Foods allowed are restricted, and the body tends to lose water rather than fat. The 3 Day Diet is not meant to be used for longer than three days, and the lost weight quickly returns.
The Scarsdale Diet
Claiming a pound a day weight loss, the Scarsdale diet is very low in carbohydrates and certain vitamins and minerals. It claims to work on chemical reactions in the body. The Scarsdale diet recommends the use of herbal appetite suppressants, which can aggravate heart problems in people with existing heart conditions.
The Zone Diet
Another low carbohydrate/high fat diet, the Zone diet aims at a breakdown of 40 percent carbohydrates, 30 percent protein, and 30 percent fat in each meal. Planning meals on the Zone is highly frustrating. Low levels of carbohydrates, fiber and certain vitamins and minerals can occur when following the Zone.
Identifying Fad Diets
Watch for diets that severely restrict or advocate one food group.
Be wary of scientific-sounding claims made without scientific backing.
Avoid "quick fixes." Claims of rapid weight loss are clear warning signs.
Watch for large claims based on small evidence.
Be suspicious of programs that appear to rely on "chemical