Obesity in the United States is a major issue. Because there is such a high obesity rate, there have been so many diets established to try and reduce these constantly rising rates. A lot of these weight-loss diets that have been established are known as fad diets. A fad diet is a diet that becomes popular quickly, and may die out just as quickly. In the United States, there are some popular and healthy fad diets such as the Atkins diet, the South Beach diet, and Weight Watchers. The Atkins diet is one of the most popular fad diets. Carbohydrates play an important role in the Atkins diet. This diet is based on keeping the carbohydrate level controlled, with a process known as ketosis (Akins par. 3). Because carbohydrates are the body’s primary energy source, keeping this level to a minimum causes the body to get energy from a different source. In the place of carbohydrates, stored body fat is burned. Carbohydrates also participate in insulin creation. Insulin is what turns the extra carbohydrates into fat. Therefore, if the body is getting fewer carbohydrates that means less insulin is being created. If less insulin is being created, then less fat is being produced resulting in weight-loss (Atkins par. 5). The Atkins diet is also a 4-phase diet. The first phase of this diet is known as the induction phase. This specific phase lasts for a minimum of two weeks. Along with this phase comes a twenty gram limit of carbohydrates, and no more. During this stage, the dieter is not allowed to eat any breads, starchy vegetables, grains, or fruits (Atkins par. 4). During this phase is when the process of ketosis takes place. Phase two of this diet is called the Ongoing Weight Loss phase. This phase consists of adding mo... ... middle of paper ... ...ty percent greater weight-loss than those who do not (Zelman par. 17). Weight Watchers can be a suitable diet for everyone, as long as it is followed correctly. It is obvious that Weight Watchers is a healthy fad diet. It does not force carbohydrates and fats, but simply focuses on maintaining calories, unlike the Atkins diet and South Beach diet. Also, Weight Watchers does not promote ketosis, which can also be unhealthy. When choosing a diet, dieters should choose a diet that suits the appropriate calorie level and that is also nutritionally balanced (Choosing par. 2). Weight Watchers fits that category. However, the Atkins and South Beach diet are both healthy in their own way, depending on the intake level. Therefore, the Atkins diet, the South Beach diet, and Weight Watchers are just a few of the many popular and healthy fad diets in the United States.
Imagine a diet with quick weight loss, and being able to see immense results in only a few months, sounds like the life doesn’t it? Well the impossible has finally become possible with the help of special diets, otherwise known as FAD diets. FAD diets are known as weight reducing diets of extreme nature that either eliminate one or more of the essential food groups or enhance the consumption of one group of food in excess, and intend to produce results more quickly than diet-exercise combinations. One specific FAD diet is known as the Cookie diet.
Low-carbohydrate diets, such as the Atkins diet, may not be the best choice for weight loss due to long-term ineffectiveness, potentially negative side effects and a lack of long-term research. Ever since the recent popularization of the Atkins diet researchers have been trying to prove Dr. Atkins’ claims and determine whether or not the diet is safe. The current body of research available on dieting supports a diet low in fat and high in complex carbohydrates with an emphasis on calorie reduction. Studies have also shown a strong link between diets high in fat and both increased cholesterol and increased risk of heart disease. The Atkins diet is the opposite of what has generally been recommended; it requires the reduction of carbohydrates to 5% or less of total calories leaving fat and protein to make up the rest. The high fat and low-carbohydrate content of this diet goes against most diet research, has potentially harmful side effects and there is insufficient evidence to judge the long-term effectiveness of the Atkins diet.
The Atkins diet seems to be a very safe diet. Many independent studies have been done about the Atkins diet. Some of these studies were done with the intent of proving that the Atkins plan didn't work. In addition to being safe, many studies have also proved Atkins is often more successful than the other diets. (1)
There will always be new diet fad but they are only temporary. The University of California in Los Angeles states, “up to two-thirds of those on a diet regain more weight than they started”. People will not stick to a diet if they are not getting results fast enough and if they do get the results they want, they go back to their old eating habits once the diet is over. Instead of going on a diet, you should just slowly add healthier options to your current diet. Eventually, healthy foods will replace the bad food completely. Losing weight can be achieved by changing your lifestyle.
I believe the Atkins diet is good and bad. We all know that not every diet is for everyone. Before starting a diet you should talk with your doctor on what is best for you and your health. Some of the pros, I have about the Atkins diet is that it helps not only for a certain time period, but if you serious about it then it can change your life style. It teaches you as well to count the good fibers and carbs you need in your daily diet. It helps outline food that you can eat and foods to avoid eating while on the diet. The Atkins diet can help improve health problems. So of the cons in the diet is that can cause,
Weight Watchers is an excellent program to aid in weight loss and healthy eating. It is an easy, healthy, and effective method for losing weight and eating correctly. Weight Watchers has based their program on a point system, making it easy to follow by counting points assigned to foods. It promotes healthy eating habits by regulating serving sizes, which are set by the United States Department of Agriculture. In addition to promoting healthy eating habits, it offers support for people who might need it. The support, along with the eating plan, helps dieters lose weight and eat healthy.
In the last couple of decades, dieting trends have astronomically increased. The average dieter has trained his or her ears and eyes to react to the word ‘fat’. Low fat, reduced fat, fat free- these are all words that until recently have set alarms off ringing in the typical dieter’s head. Recently, new vocabulary, such as ketogenic, ketosis, and low carbohydrate have stepped into the dieter’s world and questioned, or rather challenged, the ‘fat’ free method of dieting. So, after you have devoured the entire box of ‘fat’ free cookies perhaps you will ask yourself....WHAT ABOUT THE CARBOHYDRATES???
... foods are encouraged. In addition to these very serious, life-threatening diseases, a study, funded by the Atkins Center for Complimentary Medicine was conducted that showed constipation in 70% of the people on the Atkins diet, headaches in 54%, and hair loss in 10% of the subjects. These health problems are due to the lack of nutrients and balance in the Atkins diet. In contrast, a diet low in fat and high in complex carbohydrates provides fiber to help with healthy digestion, and other nutrients to promote healthy growth in all areas.
Most Americans do not care enough to take a look at the nutritional values of the food that he or she is consuming. That is why America has the highest percentage of obesity in the world. This is a serious problem because one in every three adults is obese, and one in every six children is obese. There are many factors that go into the regular American diet, but most of those factors are not appealing nor is it healthy. Americans put way too much processed food into their daily diet. Some would say that other countries diets superior the American diet because of nutritional values that it carries. Other countries have proven that an active lifestyle is a huge element in the average weight of the country. There are many things that Americans could change about their diets and lifestyle that would help them to become healthier.
These types of programs focus on the education of proper nutrition in order to provide a steady loss of weight. Though results for the controlled dieting may be slow, it is the safest and longest lasting type. Second, there is the prudent diet, these types of diets control cholesterol and lipids in blood. The prudent diet eliminates foods that are high in saturated fats and it limits the amount of sugar that is to be consumed. The prudent diet also restricts red meat and emphasizes poultry and fish. Next there are formula diets. These can be called juice cleanses as well. They provide only the minimum amount of necessary nutrients, in form of a smoothie, shake or other liquid. Formula diets can be dangerous as some can reduce the daily calorie intake to 300 calories a day. Low carbohydrate, high fat and high protein diets emphasize meat products and restrict sugar and starch intake. These diets force the body to produce Ketosis and dehydration. These diets have quick results, however weight can be quickly gained back once eating habits return to normal. Diets like these that are so rich can be dangerous because they force excretion of
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
One reason why, is that most people people that get on fad diets lose the weight quickly and gain back even more weight than what they were trying to loss in the first place. “Among those who were followed for fewer than two years, 23% gained back more weight than they had lost, while those who were followed for at least two years, 83% gained back more weight than they had lost.” (Wolpert) Those who go on a fad diet and take it further will Maintain to lose weight or just lose weight and have not gained back any more weight like other people do. “Only 5 percent to 10 percent of dieters maintain weight loss that’s greater than 10 percent of their initial weight.”
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention came out with a study in 2009 claiming that 400,000 deaths a year occur as a result of poor diet and lack of exercise (Boaz, 2009). Not only that, but as soon as one stops their crash dieting course the weight they so quickly lost is gained back and this time even more excessively (Kedge & Wattson, 2009). The side effects of diets are not only limited to the person dieting but extends to their family and friends who have to deal with issues of grumpy, ill, or complaining dieters. Fad diets are such diets which promise consumers quick results regarding weight loss. These diets are becoming popular due to the problem of obesity....
For example, it is "rich in red meat, dairy products, processed and artificially sweetened foods, and salt, with minimal intake of fruits, vegetables, fish, legumes, and whole grains" (Bloomfield et al. 2015, p. 15). An unhealthy diet is a key risk feature for a sum of chronic diseases including: “high blood pressure, diabetes, abnormal blood lipids, overweight/obesity, cardiovascular diseases, and cancer” (Lopez et al. 2006, p. 117). Despite this, the Western world still tries a lot of diets to try and lose weight. These popular diets, often mentioned as fad diets, make promises to the user of extreme weight loss, or supplementary health rewards, like an extended life without solid research and science behind it, and in countless cases are categorized by exceedingly obstructive or infrequent food selections. These popular diets are often endorsed by celebrities, and even celebrity doctors, who profit handsomely from this
In todays society Americans are ballooning, the rise in fast food, large portions, and the decrease in physical activity 34.9% or 78.6 million U.S. adults are obese and millions more overweight. Obesity causes heart disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes, some cancers, creating a need for weight loss; this is where the dieting industry steps in (CDC.gov). It seems like everytime you connect to the internet or turn on your television there is an advertisement promising that for a insignificant amount of money, you can lose upwards of 30 pounds in short amount of time. The dieting industry has huge repercussions on american society and with that kind of power, dieting industries should become more responsible, realistic, regulated, by providing more and reliable information to correct misconceptions about a user’s weight loss experience. Clearing the misconceptions about how these weight loss methods are used and their effectiveness is essential to safe and effective weight loss methods.