Nutrition 6: Fad Diets

What is the Atkins Diet?

(<20% carbs); (~25-40% proteins); (>55-60% fat)

What is the Zone Diet?

(~40-50% carbs); (~30-40% fat); (25-40% protein)

What is the Volumetric Diet?

(~55% carbs); (~10-25% protein); (~20-25% fat)

What is the current recommendation for people who want to lose weight?

1. A Diet reduced in calories and fat 2. Regular Physical Activity

What is a fad diet?

1. A diet that promises quick weight loss that's typically unsustainable 2. Requires you to eliminate entire food groups OR significantly decrease your intake of a certain food group 3. Claims to help you lose fat. However, it is water that is lost

What is the LEARN Diet?

1. Lifestyle, Exercise, Attitudes, Relationships, and Nutrition 2. High in carbs, low in fat, based on national dietary guidelines

What is the Ornish Diet?

1. Low-fat, vegetarian diet with an emphasis on the inclusion of whole grain, beans, fruits, vegetables 2. (~70-75% carbs); (~10 fat); (15-20% protein)

What are the negative aspects of Fad Diets?

1. Weight is typically regained 2. Deficiency in nutrients can occur 3. Adherence is short lived 4. Adverse events due to low carbohydrates such as: Constipation, Headache, halitosis, muscle cramps, diarrhea, general weakness, rash

What conclusions are drawn from comparing fad diets?

1. Weight loss is observed 2. Weight loss difference between different diets is small 3. Recommend any diet that a patient will adhere to in order to lose weight

How can a fad diet be determined?

Answering Yes to the following questions: 1. Does it ask you to eliminate one or several food groups? 2. Does it promise quick results? 3. Does the diet recommend supplements or pills as part of the plan? 4. Did the diet gain quickly in popularity and then fade away? 5. Does the results sound too good to be true?

When was the first fad diet?

Graham's high fiber diet in 1830

What are fad diets targeted towards?

People who want to lose weight without exercising