Sunday 16 October 2011

Weight Management-Fad Diets Do not Work

By Sarah Gilbert


Focus : weight management

Billions of dollars are spent annually on weight loss foods, products, and services. With that much money at stake, there is an overwhelming number of "fad" diets and other weight-loss products on the market. It is quite difficult then to know which ones to trust.

Most diets do not include strategies for maintaining weight loss. After an enormous amount of hard work and patience to lose unwanted pounds, these are easily regained. Hence most popular diets are considered fad diets. The dictionary defines a fad as "a practice or interest followed for a time with exaggerated zeal." Fad diets usually offer fast results with a short term commitment.

Experts stress that the long-term success of weight management involves behavior changes and possibly medical, pharmacological, and surgical intervention. Behavior changes includes diet intervention so that healthful eating habits are learned, such as a reduction in calorie and fat intake, more consumption of fruits, vegetables and whole grains. The inclusion of regular physical activity of moderate intensity is paramount for the success of any program.

On the other hand, medical, pharmacological, and surgical intervention may be needed for serious overweight and obesity cases. These have to be relevant to the behavior, diet and physical activity adjustments.

The following are warning signs that point to a fad diet:

Claims of fast weight loss, that sound too good to be true Distinguishes between good and bad food Suggests the intake of only 1,000 calories daily, coupled with a vitamin/mineral supplement or food product

Eliminates a major food group, such as grains, fats, meats, dairy, fruit, vegetables or an essential nutrient (carbohydrates, fats, proteins)

Lacks long-term randomized scientific studies proving the diet's effectiveness and safety; a randomized study distributes participants arbitrarily into either the non-tested diet group or the special diet group. Some fad diets assert there is research to defend their claims, but the research is only done with a few people or does not even exist

No exercise or any physical activities is required

It is written by someone with no expertise in weight management




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