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Compare and contrast low-carbohydrate and low-fat diets
Compare and contrast low-carbohydrate and low-fat diets
Compare and contrast low-carbohydrate and low-fat diets
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Introduction
FAD diets and weight loss pills promise fast weight loss. Although that sounds great these methods are the wrong choice: results are only short term, are extremely harmful to a person’s long-term health, and can ultimately cause more weight gain. The United States has been so focused with the seemingly “fast results” of diet pills and FAD diets that they don't even seem to care about the trauma they are causing inside (and outside) their bodies.
Short Term Results, Does It Even Work?
According to Hugo, Kataura and Block (2011) in order to achieve long-term goals of weight loss there are three major stages that a person goes through. The first being a beginning, or initial stage that usually lasts four to six weeks, next comes improvement lasting anywhere from twelve to twenty weeks, and finally maintenance and conditioning which could last six or more months. Results don't come easy or without dedication and hard work. “Anyone who promises weight loss without a healthy diet and exercise program is a con artist or quack,” as stated by Shick (2013). The higher a person’s outcome expectations leads to higher motivation. Expecting too much or having an unrealistic, unattainable goal can discourage people on the journey of losing weight causing them to give up early (Hugo, Katura, Block, 2011).
So why are people so obsessed with fast results, trying every weight loss technique suggested to them even if its not “backed up” by any evidence of working? ”The most popular[diet] strategies were eating less, exercising more, eating less fat and switching to lower-calorie foods. People who used commercial weight-loss programs and prescription weight-loss pills also saw success, but only a small portion of the study participant...
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Killoran, E. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.pritikin.com/your-health/healthy-living/eating-right/391-diet-fads-a-magic-pills.html
Majka, A. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.joe.org/joe/2011april/rb7.php
Worthy, S., Lokken, K., Pilcher, K., & Boeka, A. (2010). Demographic and lifestyle variables associated with obesity. SAGE Publications, 69(4), 372-380. Retrieved from http://eric.ed.gov/?q="FAD diets"&id=EJ907699
Sifferlin, A. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://healthland.time.com/2012/04/10/for-successful-weight-loss-forget-fad-diets-and-pills/
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But not all fad diets are necessarily bad; some fad diets help with portions but are not supposed to be used for long periods of time. Weight Watchers for example, is supposed to help its users lose 10% of their body weight and then after
This turns into a cycle of weight loss and gain, which can increase “the risk of degenerative diseases such as obesity, type II diabetes, cardiovascular disease, hypertension, and cancer” (Vaghefi par. 7). These diseases come into the picture due to the cycle. Fad diets promote weight loss, but not fat loss. When the goal weight is attained, and the diet stops, weight is put back on, which leads to more fat being put into the body than taken out and faster weight gain. When losing weight, the biggest way to avoid developing these major health issues is to “not believe or follow any of the fad diets that promise easy and quick weight loss, because there is no such thing” (Vaghefi par. 8). Safe and healthy weight loss happens gradually, with patience and with exercise and a balanced diet. Fad diets are dangerous and should not be used as they can cause major health
...o weight problems and a tiny waist may become overwhelming at times, but when you look at all of the factors that play into your choices of fad dieting or healthy diet and exercise the choice becomes a lot easier. Fad dieting comes with the risks of disease, diminished appearance, and doesn’t even provide the long term desired affects. Healthy diet and exercise helps cure the body and keep it going strong, enhances the beauty you already possess, and has long lasting results that give you the body of your dreams. So when your looking at the skinny bodies on the magazines stating that “they lost 15 pounds in 4 days”, try to remember what those 15 pounds may have cost them. When your looking at the person that worked hard with proper diet an exercise and has that certain glow about them remember that although it is tough at first, it is better done the healthy way.
Not only do low-fat diets not work but they are dangerous towards our body. Our body needs certain fats to sustain energy and support cell growth. Low-fat diets may worsen HDL cholesteric and triglycerides. Because low-fat diets have not been successful towards many people, they turn around to face another lie. They begin to abandon the idea of taking low-fat diets and turn to high-fat diets. The super-high-fat Atkins diet or zone and sugar busters diet which are just as flawed as the low-fat diets. Many people find it hard to lose weight and even on these diets they tend to still gain weight. Many of the reasons why diets high and low in fat or carbohydrates don’t work are because they are not accurate. They are hard to keep up so they eventually stop the diet. They set goals that seem almost unrealistic and the processes of keeping the diet seem even harder than taking the weight off. Obesity has become a big epidemic in America. Americans tend to look for the easy way out. Getting on a diet that seems like a good idea without realizing how unrealistic it can become. How it promises to make you lose 5lbs a month if you stay committed. Lies. The narrow-minded focus on fats has been a failure that seems to have worsened the problem of obesity. The best way to keep the body safe is to avoid smoking, eating right and exercising. These healthy lifestyles will change the course of the death sentence that most Americans carry upon
Flegal, K. M., Carroll, M. D., Ogden, C. L., & Curtin, L. R. (2010). Prevalence and trends in obesity among U.S. adults, 1999-2008. Journal of Medical Association. 303, 235-241.
According to the USDA, at the start of century 21st American people have increased their daily caloric intake by consuming five hundred calories more than in 1970. As cited by Whitney & Rolfes (2011), there are many recognized causes of obesity such as genetics, environment, culture, socioeconomic, and metabolism among others; but the cause most evident is that food intake is higher than the calories burned in physical activity. Excess of energy from food is stored in the body as fat causing an increase of weight. During the course of the last 40 years, obesity has grown enormously in the United States and the rates remain on the rise (pgs. 272-273).
A million types of fad diets promise people to lose weight by using drugs or specific diet plans such as 5:2, paleo, hormone cure, virgin, bulletproof. Moreover, each type of fad diet has its own specific style. Studies show that 108 million people in the US follow fad diets (ABC News Staff, 2012). The fad diets are the same as fashion, where people use it enthusiastically for a period of time to give them beauty, elegant and perfect appearance. A fad diet is the most dangerous type of diet and it causes many health problems.
Some people do not know all that much about exercise and dieting. They do not know healthy ways to eat, and they don’t realize that one can’t get the “Perfect Body” in just a few days. These people are possibly victims of Fitness Myths. “In 2002, the Federal Trade Commission released a report that shared a review of 300 weight-loss ads promoting 218 different products. They found the rampant use of false or misleading claims” (FTC, 2003) Misleading fitness products can be particularly damaging. If one is mislead into purchasing a product and the product doesn’t work as it was advertised, not only have you wasted your money, but also the product may have physically hurt your body. FTC chairman Timothy Muris talks about the advertising and promotion tactics of the fitness industry “ads that make claims and promises that are clearly implausible and patently false run in all forms of media, with the notable exception of network TV” (FTC, 2003). Misleading advertisements are common among all forms of media. Although TV commercials may be more powerful in their persuasion, an obvious reason for this is that TV advertisements show more misleading commercials. A technique frequently used in commercials to make them seem credible is that “many deceptive ads run in highly respected publications and they are perceived to be credible”(FTC, 2003). Therefore if the TV program you are watching, while the commercial is being played, seems credible, consumers tend to believe that the products advertised during the episode are also trustworthy.
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.
Obesity and overweight remain the two major social problems in the United States. Apart from the fact that obesity and overweight are dangerous by themselves, they also cause a variety of negative health consequences. Our lives our overloaded with tasks and obligations, and we often choose to eat something fast. “Fast”, however, does not necessarily imply “useful”, and more and more people face the risks of becoming obese even at young age. Because obesity has already become a national i...
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
Most of us have a hard time accepting that diets don’t work - ESPECIALLY since the media and those selling those restrictive
Most fad diets do not focus on meeting the nutritional requirements of your body, but on losing weight quickly. This encourages unhealthy eating habits as many people result to restricting their intake of foods that have essential nutrients. In fact, the diet programs are designed to take advantage of the willingness of people to attempt anything to lose weight or feel and look
Everyone wants to lose weight quickly and effortlessly; therefore, any fad diet promising overnight results becomes the new "call" of the "bandwagoneer." She tries the grapefruit diet or the watermelon diet, but she decides her stomach cannot possibly deal with all of that fruit. The next day the television advertises a new wonder pill that allows the user to lose up to ten pounds in one week, and the "bandwagoneer" answers the "call." Although the magic pill does not produce the desired weight loss, she never gives up hope for a new "wagon" to hitch onto. Once again, this dieter is lured by advertisements of instant spot reduction--liposuction. She crosses over the safety line into a danger zone of unknown procedures, performed by unqualified physicians. Some dieters lose their lives in the search for a beautiful body. The stomach staple is another dieting tool that dieters try. The staple yields a large weight loss, but the dieter endangers her health because of excess loss of body fluids. The "bandwagoneer" is always listening for the newest cure on the dieting market.
As soon as you have convinced yourself that you are committed to becoming healthier, losing some weight will be an added bonus. Clean out the fridge and cupboards to get rid of all the stuff that taste yummy but is bad for your health. This includes chips, ho ho’s, cookies and soda’s. I know it is hard to get rid of but you need to have fruit and vegetables instead. Also quit eating foods that contain sodium. The sodium will cause water retention, which means you will be bloated.