Diet Review of Literature

Introduction

Fad diets are the ones that make individuals lose weight very quickly. But quick weight loss fools people because when they return to their normal diet they regain the lost weight immediately and sometimes gain double the weight that was lost. These fad diets can be hazardous to health. Most of the fad diets are commonly known as crash diets (Reinagel, p.112). Some diets lead to losses in body fluids only and actually very little fat is lost. Such diets are not balanced in various nutrients; they are not realistic and difficult for people to follow on n long term basis. This paper critically examines the use of fads in popular diet. The paper also explores the present evidence and literature on the subject.

Reasons to Adopt Fad Diets

Because of ambiguity, fads associated with food are abundant. What to eat and what not to eat? Which foods are healthy and which foods can even harm? One man's food may be a deadly poison for another, as in the case of allergy or idiosyncrasy. Reader's Digest has published a book, “Foods that Harm and Foods that Heal” with a rider, “consult physician for specific health problem”. Food fads such as 'excess of sweets cause diabetes' are too many to list. There are contradictions, inconsistencies and vagueness. The social and cultural dilemmas have become critical vis-à-vis new scientific knowledge on the nutritional value of foods (Freedman, King & Kennedy, p.34). The reasons are: biological, ecological, historical, geographical, socio-cultural, commercial marketing of foods and globalization of trade.

It is the latest fad diet, and like all fad diets there is some controversy here. First, there is the meager 500-calorie a day limit. Then there is the daily injection of a pregnancy hormone that tricks the body into feeling full while still burning fat. The weight loss plan is attracting both men and women. But as CTV medical specialist Avis Favor reports, some doctors are highly doubtful (McBean & Speckmann , p.1074).

Magic Diets

Diets that promise far too much magic in too little time are essentially quick fixes that could be harmful for your health. Ludicrous and larger-than-life claims such as "watch the pounds shed off if you eat before 5pm" or "this supplement will burn fat from your thighs " or "lose weight with cabbage soup diet" or "a teaspoon of this magic powder at bedtime will make sure you lose weight while you sleep", are continuously doing the rounds (Lovegren, p. 93). With more and more people wanting to lose weight quickly and without effort, such fad diets will continue to surface. In fact, if you are faced with just two months and lots of weight to lose, a fad diet becomes the only recourse even if it means paying an arm and a leg for one and harming your health in the long term.

The Pill-Based Diet Diets that advocate restricting entire food groups are also detrimental to one's health. Several fad diets promote single foods, say, only cabbage ...