Argumentative Essay On Fad Diets

According to recent statistics, every year Americans spend about $50 billion on products and services promoted to help them lose weight. Many of the overweight and obese people that join commercial weight loss programs are looking for a quick fix to lose the weight, such as fad diets and dietary supplements that are marketed to burn fat fast. However, many of these diets offer little success or success for a short time, resulting in many gaining the weight back a short time afterwards. Fad diets are “a trendy practice that has widespread appeal among a population. After a period, however, people lose interest in the practice, and it becomes no longer fashionable. People often lose weight while following fad diets, but usually regain much of

Many of fad diets rely on gimmicks, things that makes the diet seem to be unique or more likely to work than other

There are numerous fad diets that surround around restricted carbohydrates, low-fat to no-fat, or diets with gimmicks, including the Dr. Atkins New Diet Revolution, Calories Don’t Count, the South Beach Diet, the Rice Diet, and the Eat Right for Your Type. One of the most notable examples of a “fad diet” is the South Beach Diet, which is known for restricting carbohydrates. The South Beach Diet is a popular fad diet created in 2003 by cardiologist Arthur Agatston and outlined in his best-selling book, "The South Beach Diet: The Delicious, Doctor-Designed, Foolproof Plan for Fast and Healthy Weight Loss." According to Dr. Agatston, the South Beach Diet is lower in carbohydrates and higher in protein and healthy fats, but does not require one to count carbs. In fact, the South Beach Diet claims that “its balance of good carbs, lean protein, and healthy fats makes it a nutrient-dense, fiber-rich diet that you can follow for a lifetime of healthy eating. Instead of counting carbs, the South Beach Diet uses the glycemic index and glycemic load to determine which carbs you should