The American Academy of Family Physicians defines a fad diet as a diet plan that promises dramatic weight loss in a short time. Fad diets usually do not lead to long-term weight loss, and in fact, many of them can be unhealthy. At any given time, there usually are several fad diet plans that people tend to flock to.
Atkins Diet
The Atkins diet was developed by Dr. Robert Atkins in the 1970s. The diet, which involves a low-carbohydrate lifestyle, became extremely popular in the late 1990s and early 2000s, but decreased in popularity around 2004, according to EveryDiet.org.
The Atkins diet involves four phases, each of which severely restricts carbohydrate intake. One of the most controversial issues behind the Atkins diet is the high amount of fat allowed while following the diet. Critics of the diet claim that because the diet allows so much fat, it increases your risk of heart disease.
Cabbage Soup Diet
The cabbage soup diet claims that you can lose up to 10 lbs. in seven days by following a diet that consists mainly of homemade cabbage soup. While this diet might help you drop weight, the severe calorie restriction can eventually slow down your metabolism, causing you to burn calories less efficiently. Like most fad diets, the cabbage soup diet might help with short-term weight loss, but is not a diet you can follow for the long term. Because of the monotony of the food selection, the diet is low in several vitamins and minerals as well as protein and essential fatty acids.
Zone Diet
The Zone diet, which was developed by Dr. Barry Sears, is a low-glycemic diet plan that allows 40 percent of calories from carbohydrates and 30 percent of calories from both protein and fat. The diet plan is said to create an ideal balance of hormones, referred to as "the zone," that helps you burn off calories and lose weight most efficiently. While many people experience rapid weight loss when beginning the Zone diet, Health Services at Columbia notes that this weight loss usually is due to water loss. Because of this, it is important that you increase your water intake on the Zone diet to prevent dehydration.
Ornish Diet
The Ornish diet, named for its creator, Dr. Dean Ornish, involves a severe dietary fat restriction. The macronutrient breakdown in the Ornish diet is 10 percent fat, 20 percent protein and 70 percent carbohydrates. In addition to its fat restriction, the Ornish diet is completely vegetarian. Your food intake consists mainly of whole grains, legumes, fruits and vegetables.
References
- American Academy of Family Physicians; Nutrition for Weight Loss: What You Need to Know About Fad Diets; December 2010
- EveryDiet.org; Atkins Diet; April 1, 2011
- EveryDiet.org; Cabbage Soup Diet; November 19, 2009
- Health Services at Columbia; The Zone Diet; May 15, 2009
- DietsinReview.com: Ornish Diet
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