ABC Diet

According to the website DietChoices.com, the term ABC diet may stand for "Ana Boot Camp Diet." Here the word "ana" is an abbreviation for the word "anorexia." The ABC diet could also denote a diet created as a joke by satirist Robert S. Wieder. In fact, regardless of which one you consider to be the true ABC diet, they are both fad diets, and neither one is considered healthy by medical experts. Consult your doctor before starting any new diet.

Fad Diets

Acording to mayoclinic.com, fad diets are not a wise choice to support the health of your body. While these diets may initially help you lose weight, they lack the comprehensive approach necessary for lasting results. Instead, adopt a weight-loss plan that includes sustainable lifestyle changes and takes into consideration exercise, diet, nutrition and psychological health.

"Ana" Diet

The Ana -- anorexia -- Boot Camp Diet is a 50-day diet recommending daily menus that provide between 100 and 500 calories a day. The concept of the diet is that by switching back and forth between higher and lower numbers of calories, you may be able to trick the body into dropping weight without going into starvation mode. However, according to dietchoices.com, this diet will likely result in the serious health problems associated with anorexia nervosa.

Anorexia Nervosa

According to Mayoclinic.com, anorexia nervosa is an eating disorder that manifests as extreme obsession with maintaining a dangerously low body weight. Anorexia nervosa is caused by emotional problems. Preoccupation with food and refusal to eat are behavioral signs of anorexia nervosa. Physical symptoms include severely low weight, fatigue, dry skin and thinning hair and nails.

"Ana" Diet Safety

The "Ana" diet seems to fit the profile of anorexic behavior, as the name suggests. Like other anorexic behaviors, it may lead to serious complications including anemia, osteoporosis, irregular heart rhythm, kidney problems and even death. A person who tries this diet or exhibits other signs of anorexia may be emotionally and mentally ill and could benefit from psychotherapy, family support, and medical treatment for specific physical symptoms.

Robert S. Wieder's ABC Diet

According to Dietchoices.com, Robert Wieder parodied fad diets to show how ridiculous and arbitrary they can be. He created a diet in which you would eat only certain foods starting with the letters A, B or C. He gives only four foods for each letter including antelope, asparagus, beluga caviar, celery and catsup. While this diet -- which is obviously meant as a joke -- may actually help you lose weight, you are better off with a diet based on sound nutritional science. Consult your doctor to design a comprehensive and realistic weight-loss plan for you.