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The Dangers of “Fad” Diets

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The New Year has come and reality has set in. That “fad” diet you started—determined to lose 30 pounds—has come and gone as well. A fad diet is a diet that has no real scientific basis, and quickly rises in popularity and usually falls from public favor just as quickly. Fad diets are also hard to stick to because they’re generally over restrictive and unrealistic. Any weight rapidly lost generally returns just as fast when you fall off the wagon.

The Cabbage soup diet, eating only purple food, powders, shakes and injections, severely restricting calories to starvation levels, even eating a parasite or two… the list goes on and on as the diets become more outlandish. Some diets that are touted as “new” have, in fact, been around for a very long time.

So how can you spot a fad diet?

●      Generally, the claims sound too good to be true.

●      They are endorsed by someone who is not a doctor (often it’s a celebrity).

●      They are based on “scientific research,” but it’s frequently a single, non-reproducible study or pseudoscience.

●      Guaranteed “quick and easy” weight loss with minimal effort (again, sounds too good to be true).

●      Requires elimination of entire food groups or several food groups.

Most of these fad diets are harmless and a waste of time and money at best. But fad diets can also be dangerous to your health in several ways:

●      If you’re only eating one particular kind of food, then you’re likely missing out on some key nutrients, which can result in muscle and hair loss.

●      Most fad diets don’t encourage exercise as a component. Regular exercise is key to a healthy lifestyle.

●      Fad diets are hard to maintain for any extended amount of time and result in “yo-yo” dieting, which can make it harder to lose weight in the long run because of the changes in your metabolism.

●      Some fad diets are extreme and encourage starvation.

Brigham City Community Hospital recommends following a sensible diet using correct portion sizes from all the food groups. This, along with regular cardiovascular exercise, is the most effective lifestyle for reaching and maintaining a healthy weight. For more information about a balanced diet contact our nutritionist at 435-734-4203 or talk to your family doctor.


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