The Bite Diet -- more accurately known as the Five Bite Diet -- is a weight management plan developed by internal medicine specialist Dr. Alwin Lewis. The only key to successful weight loss, according to Lewis, is consistently controlling the amount you eat. Although Lewis and his proponents claim that adhering to the Five Bite Diet will alter your appetite and speed your metabolism, health professionals believe that extreme weight management programs are not a good option for dieters seeking enhanced health and sustainable weight loss.
Background
Lewis developed his Five Bite Diet program after working with overweight patients in his internal medicine practice. Later, he founded The Slimming Station, a clinic that helps people lose weight following his principles, and detailed the observations that led him to develop the program in his 2007 book, "Why Weight Around? Changing The Weight Loss Strategy." Lewis' theory of weight loss is based on his belief that by strictly controlling the amount -- not the nutritional or caloric content -- of what you eat for three days, you can suppress your appetite and begin to lose weight. Lewis contends that if you stay with the Five Bite Diet until your body mass index drops to 18.5, you will experience accelerated weight loss and increased energy and can return to your normal eating habits. He says that dieters at The Slimming Station lose as much as 15 lbs. weekly; however, no reputable, objective scientific studies support these claims.
Guidelines
Followers of the Five Bite Diet are instructed to skip breakfast and to eat five bites of any food they want for lunch and dinner, and consume at least some protein every day. Dieters are also told to use a daily multi-vitamin supplement and to drink plenty of water or some other non-caloric beverage. Exercise recommendations are not a part of the program, and Lewis does not give guidelines for which foods dieters should consume during their 10 daily bites of food. He also doesn't specify how much protein dieters should eat each day to maintain optimum health.
Expert Insight
The most successful weight loss programs, says Mayo Clinic, emphasize whole grains, lean protein, and fresh fruits and vegetables, and encourage moderate-intensity aerobic exercise several times a week. Plans like the Five Bite Diet do not lay the groundwork for a lifestyle that promotes long-term weight loss and a decrease in the risk of medical conditions like cancer or heart disease. Medical professionals consider a weight loss of 1 to 2 lbs. a week -- which requires using 500 to 1,000 fewer calories a day -- a healthy and sustainable amount. Programs like the Five Bite Diet that promise over 10 lbs. of weight loss a week are unrealistic.
Considerations
Following the Five Bite Diet may cause you to develop nutrient deficiencies that put you at risk for anemia or osteoporosis and may contribute to eating disorders like anorexia. The program's extreme guidelines can be difficult to follow; failure to lose the amount of weight expected -- or to keep the weight off -- can start dieters on a cycle of yo-yo dieting. Additionally, no scientific evidence supports Lewis' contention that eating only 10 bites of food a day for three days can suppress your appetite. Do not begin the Five Bite Diet without first speaking to your doctor about the possible dangers.
