Liquid diet plans have been on the weight loss market for several decades. One of the oldest of these plans is the Cambridge Diet. With varying levels of calorie restriction, depending on the dieter's goals, the Cambridge Diet remains popular, especially in the United States and the United Kingdom. However, the diet comes with substantial health risks if not used under the direct care of a doctor or other medical professional.
History
The Cambridge Diet was introduced in 1970 by Dr. Alan Howard of Cambridge University in England. Dr. Howard felt the traditional way of medically treating obese patients was like "looking into the wrong end of the telescope." Howard partnered with a medical doctor named Ian McLean Baird to begin a study that eventually led to the development of the Cambridge Diet plan. The rights to the plan were bought by a man named Jack Feather from California, who trained ''nutrition counselors'' across the nation on how to sell and distribute the program.
Function
The Cambridge Diet causes weight loss due to extreme calorie restriction. While on the plan, dieters typically consume between 400 and 800 calories a day. In comparison, the U.S. Department of Agriculture Food Guide recommends on average consuming 2,000 calories a day, depending on height and current weight. Cutting calorie consumption forces the body to turn to body fat storage for energy. As the body breaks down fat into energy and eliminates the resulting waste products, weight loss occurs.
Supplies
The Cambridge Diet consists of multiple meal supplements that come in the form of bars, shakes and soups. These supplements contain a mixture of protein, fat and carbohydrates, as well as 100 percent of the U.S. Recommended Daily Allowance of both minerals and vitamins.
Cost
The Cambridge Diet is offered through distributors located across the nation called "nutritional consultants." The plan is one of the more expensive on the market, with weekly costs ranging between $50 and $75.
Warning
Excessively restricting calories can cause severe health problems if not done under the supervision of a doctor. Although the Cambridge Diet can be done as a "do it yourself" program, serious health risks include heart rhythm abnormalities, diarrhea, eating disorder development and mineral loss. The Cambridge Diet also does not teach long-term healthy eating skills, leaving people to fend for themselves in keeping the weight off once they have ended the diet.
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