The Scarsdale diet is a weight management program developed in the 1970s by Dr. Herman Tarnower. The diet contains strict rules about what you can eat and in what portions, and is designed to be followed for 14 days, with the possibility of taking 14 days off the diet, then starting it again for further weight loss. Proponents say that if you carefully adhere to these rules, you can lose 20 lbs. in two weeks. However, health professionals argue that the Scarsdale diet is not a healthy choice for weight loss. According to reputable medical institutions, the diet does not provide a balanced diet or ample calories, fails to encourage regular exercise and can cause serious side effects. Talk to your doctor about the possible dangers before beginning the Scarsdale diet.
Recommended Foods
The Scarsdale diet recommends consuming a specific ratio of nutrients: 43 percent protein, 34.5 percent carbohydrate and 22.5 percent fat. Fruits and vegetables -- other than salads with oil-free dressing, occasional grapefruit and vegetables, and between-meal snacks of celery and carrots -- are not emphasized because, according to Scarsdale, eating nutrients in the recommended proportions will signal your body to significantly decrease its fat stores. MayoClinic.com warns that diets such as Scarsdale, which encourage severely restricting whole categories of foods, do not promote sustainable weight loss and can result in nutritional deficiencies, notably calcium deficiency because the diet bans all dairy products. Additionally, the American Heart Association advises that the best way to lose weight and decrease your risk of disease is to consume a diet high in a wide variety of fresh fruits, vegetables and unprocessed whole grains, foods that the Scarsdale diet does not emphasize.
Caloric Intake
If you strictly follow the Scarsdale diet, you'll only consume between 700 and 1,000 calories daily. The National Institutes of Health, however, recommends that even sedentary adult men and women should consume at least 2,000 calories daily to be certain they are obtaining sufficient amounts of essential nutrients, vitamins and minerals. Very low-calorie diets such as Scarsdale can be difficult to stick with long-term because they can cause extreme hunger and irritability, and might, through eliminating types of food from your diet, cause you to become deficient in particular nutrients.
Exercise Recommendations
All reputable health care institutions advise that the key to sustainable weight loss and better health is to take part in regular physical activity, ideally 30 minutes daily. Despite this, the Scarsdale diet lacks any specific exercise recommendations. In fact, Diet TV reports that in his book, "The Complete Scarsdale Medical Diet," Tarnower says it is nearly impossible to lose weight with exercise. Critics point out that with the few calories the diet provides, followers might not have enough energy to exercise at all, particularly if they haven't already been exercising regularly.
Potential Side Effects
Following the Scarsdale diet can cause a number of side effects, including diarrhea, extreme fatigue, constipation and mood swings. If followed for more than 14 days, or by people with kidney or liver problems, it can cause permanent kidney and liver damage. Because of these potential health problems, the American Academy of Family Physicians strongly advises against following weight management programs such as the Scarsdale diet.
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