Fad diets are weight-loss plans that gain popularity quickly and often become unpopular just as fast. Although these diets may provide some initial benefits, they usually do not fulfill the promoted promise. Fad diets are bad for many reasons, most notably because of false promises, short-term results, lack of a behavioral modification program and increased health risks. Consult your doctor about your health and the benefits and risks of beginning a diet.
False Promises
Fad diets make false and unrealistic promises that you can lose weight and fat in a relatively short time. People who promote these diets may show you photos they claim of dieters before and after weight loss, setting up expectations that you can experience the same dramatic results. Yet when you do not see these results after the diet, you realize that you may have been fooled. Ask to see published clinical studies of the diet to evaluate the merits before making your decision about whether or not to pursue the diet.
Short-Term Results
Many fad diets are too low in calories and carbohydrates, which can initially cause you to lose water from your body. Within a few days, you can begin to see you are losing weight and may become inspired. Yet, as your body becomes rehydrated with water, your weight may increase, sometimes above where it was when you began your diet. Most diets fail because you cannot sustain weight loss. Research by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and published in the "American Journal of Preventive Medicine" in 2007 discovered that less than 8 percent of people who go on weight-loss diets continue to lose more than 5 percent of their weight one year later, whereas under 59 percent maintain weight within 5 percent and more than 33 percent regain more than 5 percent of their body weight, particularly those who are sedentary.
Lack of Behavioral Modification Program
Long-term weight loss requires you to change your behavior and to change your habits in terms of your diet and physical activity. Fad diets often do not include a behavior modification program. Research by scientists at the Pennington Biomedical Research Center at Louisiana State University and published in the "Journal of Behavioral Medicine" in 2010 demonstrated that early adherence to a weight-loss diet is associated with percentage weight loss and waist circumference at six- month and 24-month intervals. Higher adherence to a low-calorie diet and physical activity is associated with lower weight regain over a two-year follow-up, according to research by Scientists at the University of Alabama at Birmingham and published in the journal "Obesity" in 2010.
Increased Health Risks
Fad diets may cause an imbalance of essential nutrients and may increase your risks of chronic diseases. Research by scientists at California State University in Sacramento and published in "Preventive Cardiology" in 2006 found that high-protein, low-carbohydrate diets over six months in duration increased the risk of cardiovascular disease. The research concludes that these diets may impair kidney, bone and gastrointestinal health.
References
- MedlinePlus: Tips for Losing Weight
- "American Journal of Preventive Medicine"; Weight Regain in U.S. Adults Who Experienced Substantial Weight Loss, 1999-2002; E.C. Weiss, et al.; July 2007
- "Journal of Behavioral Medicine"; Early Behavioral Adherence Predicts Short and Long-Term Weight Loss in the Pounds Lost Study; D.A. Williamson, et al.; August 2010
- "Obesity"; Dietary Adherence During Weight Loss Predicts Weight Regain; P. Del Corral et al.; Dec. 16, 2010
- "Preventive Cardiology"; The Skinny on High-Protein, Low-Carbohydrate Diets; W. Cunningham, et al.; Summer 2006
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