Transcript Fad diets - Seward Wellness

Fad Diets and
Supplements
Topic 5
What is a fad diet?
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There is no specific definition
A general description: ANY diet that does not
meet basic guidelines for good health and
promises effortless, quick weight loss
The diets do not include eating food from all
of the food groups (meat and meat
substitutes, fruits, vegetables, grains and
dairy foods)
Fad diets: remember these?
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A variety of diets that are popular at one point
and then fade away
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Cabbage soup and grapefruit diet
Detox diet
Any other diets??
What is a fad diet (cont’d)?
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Fad diets do not aid in permanent lifestyle
changing behaviors
They allow for quick fix dieting over periods of
weeks
Remember that most individuals regain the
weight they lost while dieting—and at times
even more!
What are detox diets?
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These are often associated with regimens
that cleanse the body of built up toxins
Many individuals feel the need to “detox” after
over consumption of sugar and alcohol
Do we need to detoxify our
bodies?
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Our bodies have natural detoxifiers
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Kidneys
Liver
Respiratory system
Gastrointestinal system
Often times making small changes in one’s
diet (eliminating unhealthy food choices) can
be beneficial
What are popular terms
relating to detox diets?
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Fasting
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Another term for starving
Can be extremely dangerous
Can be associated with headaches and fatigue
Juice fasts
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This provides energy from natural sugars found in fruit as
well as some vitamins and minerals
This may be more of a mental preparation in considering
one’s self to be on a “healthy track” towards a healthier diet
This type of fast should last no longer than 2 days
Popular detox diet terms
(cont’d)
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Cleansing products, colonics and
supplements
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These often refer to “colon cleansing” and have a
laxative effect
Overuse of these products can damage the
digestive tract
These products can be quite expensive
Popular Diet Terms
Low carbohydrate diet
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Known as Atkins or South Beach
Can recommend a maximum of ~20 grams of net
carbohydrates daily
Most of initial weight loss is water weight and
often individuals regain more weight once they
return to their usual diet
Glycemic index diet
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These foods are ranked on how quickly they
elevate blood sugar levels
A couple of concerns:
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The index does not consider portion size
The index does not consider food preparation method
American Dietetic Association claims there is no
research to show that the glycemic index of a
food has an effect on weight loss or weight gain
Zone diet (40/30/30)
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Suggests that consuming 40% calories from
carbohydrates and 30% calories from protein and
fat aids in stabilizing blood sugars and weight loss
It is important to know the specific types of
carbohydrates, protein and fat
Low fat diet
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Known as Ornish or Pritikin-type diet
Suggests that eating foods from the “allowed” list
(high in fiber/low in saturated fat) until satisfied will
improve cholesterol and blood pressure
Meal planning and preparation can be time
consuming
Cookie diet
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This is a very low calorie diet (800 calories) and
described as a doctor supervised custom program
Daily diet consists of:
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6 special cookies
8 glasses of water
6 ounces of lean protein
1 cup of vegetables for dinner
3 hour diet
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Jorge Cruz
Suggests that consuming smaller, more frequent
meals (every 3 hours) will reduce feelings of
hunger and ultimately reduce caloric intake
Diet recommends that if an individual stays fueled
(and hydrated) he/she can maintain motivation
and energy, while avoiding feelings of hunger
Meal replacement diet
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Shakes and bars (Slimfast)
Works for those individuals who require extreme
structure and prefer not to spend time with meal
preparation
Meal replacements allow individuals to stick to an
allotment of calories
Raw foods diet
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Suggests that eating only foods that are raw or
“living”, unprocessed and unpasteurized will
promote immunity and longevity
Nutritional value in a food can be increased when
cooked (tomatoes)
It is recommended to cook some foods to ensure
food safety techniques
Sugar busters
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Recommends no sugar in the diet
Suggests that eating sugar is toxic to the body
causing it to release insulin and store excess
sugar as fat
Diet is focused primarily on protein and fat and
suggests avoiding specific carbohydrates which
restricts intake on some fruits, vegetables and
whole grains
Blood diet
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Dr. Peter D’Adamo
Suggests eating based on genetic make-up
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Ethnicity/race
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Blood type
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Caucasian, African or Asian
O, A, B or AB
Diet includes food that promotes immunity and
healthy weight
Ultimately though it is calories in vs. calories out
that determine weight loss
Is this diet a fad diet?
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Does it promise slow weight loss of 1-2 pounds?
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Is there a Registered Dietitian involved?
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Does it allow you to eat foods from all the food
groups (fruits, vegetables, breads and cereals, meat
and meat substitutes and dairy foods)?
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Does it encourage permanent behavior change and
exercise?
If you answered yes to any of
these questions then this
IS NOT a fad diet
Is this diet a fad diet?
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Does it promise quick weight loss of 3 or
more pounds weekly?
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Does it tell you to never eat certain foods?
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Does it suggest that you buy supplements to
make up for what the diet is missing?
Is you answered yes to any of
these questions then this
IS a fad diet
What are negative health
implications surrounding fad
diets and diet programs?
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Short term effects
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Fatigue
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Irritability
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Weakness
What are negative health
implications surrounding fad
diets and diet programs?
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Long term effects
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Increased risk for heart disease
Increased risk for kidney and liver damage
Removes the pleasure out of eating
Weight loss pills and
supplements: the facts
Doesn’t everyone
want to loose weight
quickly and easily?
Weight loss pills and
supplements: the facts (cont’d)
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Are they healthy?
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Dietary supplements and weight loss pills are not
regulated by the same standards as the Food and
Drug Administration (FDA) and often have limited
proof of safety and effectiveness
Once a product is on the market the FDA can
then investigate
Are they worth the money?
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Often times they are expensive
Weight loss pills and
supplements: the facts (cont’d)
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There are multiple weight loss pills available
over the counter and online
It is important to read labels and to discuss
options with a physician
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Check the FDA website for updates regarding
alerts about safety concerns and recalls
See handout: Common Weight-loss Pills
and the Research Behind Their
Effectiveness and Safety
Weight loss pills and
supplements: the facts (cont’d)
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Make sure to include your physician in your
weight loss plans
Remember there are no quick
fixes----no matter what a
product claims!
Weight loss myths
There are many!!!
See handout: Weight-loss and
Nutrition Myths
Diet programs
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Jenny Craig
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NutriSystem
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http://www.tops.org
Weight Watchers
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http://www.nutrisystem.com
Take Off Pounds Sensibly
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http://www.jennycraig.com
http://www.weightwatchers.com
Registered Dietitian
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http://www.eatright.org
Reference materials
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Health: Comparison of Diets
 http://www.health.com/health/diet-guide
FDA: Dietary Supplements
 http://www.fda.gov/Food/DietarySupplements/default.htm
RD411
 http:// www.rd411.com
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services National
Institutes of Health
 National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute
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http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases
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http://www.win.niddk.nih.gov