Why “Declare War” on Fad Diets?
• To inform the public about misleading weight-loss claims. Many of the fad diets in circulation – like last year’s infamous Cabbage Soup Diet – can undermine people’s health, cause physical discomfort, and lead to disappointment when people regain their weight soon after they lose it. Fad diets usually overemphasize one particular food or type of food. They violate the first principle of good nutrition, which is to eat a balanced diet that includes a variety of foods. Those able to stay on a fad diet for more than a few weeks may develop nutritional deficiencies, because no one type of food has all the nutrients necessary for good health. The Cabbage Soup Diet is an example. This so-called fat-burning soup is eaten mostly with fruits and vegetables. The diet supposedly helps heart patients lose 10-17 pounds in seven days before surgery. • No “superfoods” exist. That’s why people should eat moderate amounts from all food groups, not eat large amounts of a few special foods. • Fad diets
