You don't have to look hard to find a plethora of wacky weight-loss plans. A high obesity rate among American adults -- more than 30 percent according to the Centers for Disease Control -- combined with unrealistic standards of beauty help to fuel a never-ending cycle of wacky fad diets. Many of these programs promise rapid weight loss if you cut out whole classes of food, or eat massive quantities of one magic vegetable or fruit. Despite their claims, fad diets do not offer long-term weight loss or health benefits, according to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.
Cabbage Soup Diet
Individuals follow a strict week-long meal plan with cabbage soup serving as the primary source of sustenance. Although numerous variations of the cabbage soup recipe exist, according to Dr. Larry Greenly, typical ingredients include onions, green beans, carrots, bouillon, tomatoes and of course, cabbage. Depending on the day, dieters may supplement their all-you-can-eat cabbage soup with steak, potatoes or assorted vegetables. If dieters strictly adhere to the odd combination of foods, they may drop more than 10 pounds in a single week. However, Greenly warns, the diet lacks necessary nutritional elements such as protein, complex carbohydrates and a host of vitamins and minerals, which makes it a dangerous diet to follow for more than a short period of time.
Master Cleanse
Stanley Burroughs created the master cleanse, or lemonade, diet more than 60 years ago. He advocated fasting as a means of purifying the body. Burroughs' plan restricts followers to drinking a concoction of lemon juice, cayenne pepper, purified water and maple syrup, which supposedly flushes toxins and disease from the body. In recent years celebrities have touted the benefits of the diet, but according to journalist Karen Matthews, medical experts dismiss these claims and add that any weight lost during the cleanse will return as soon as dieters return to their regular eating habits.
Blood Type Diet
Based on the supposition that different blood types react badly to certain foods, this diet outlines meal plans appropriate for each blood type. Individuals with type A blood, for example, must adhere to a vegetarian diet while type B individuals are allowed to eat meat and dairy products. In addition to a tailored eating regime, the diet's creators outline exercise programs that purportedly benefit each blood type. The Wellness Center at The University of Santa Clara raises concerns about this diet, noting that no scientific research supports the diet's claims, and its preclusion of entire food groups may deprive dieters of necessary nutrients and vitamins.
References
- Weight Control Information Network: Publication: Weight-loss and Nutrition Myths
- Center for Disease Control: Chronic Disease: Obesity: At a Glance
- PubMed: Journal of Chiropractic Medicine: A Doctor's Guide to Diet Plans A-Z
- USA Today: Master Cleanse Garners Praise, Criticism
- Santa Clara University: Wellness Center: Fad Diet
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