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Fad Diets and the Public's Health |
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September 6, 2005
by Sarah Clark
Education Factor Columnist
According to public health experts at the National Institutes of Health, nearly two-thirds of U.S. adults are overweight. The NIH also reports that Americans spend $33 billion annually on weight-loss products and services, some of which go toward buying foods or books related to fad diets. What are some of these diets and do they promote nutrition and long-term weight loss?
Oprah Winfrey, the legendary diet diva, regularly dedicates her talk show program to weight loss success stories. Recently, she featured her own weight loss program, which involves strict adherence to a regimen that forbids eating white bread, pasta, potatoes, and rice as well as alcohol and sweets. In addition, her diet calls for eight workouts a week.
Other popular fad diets among the American public include everything from eating primarily Subway sandwiches and consuming large quantities of grapefruit and cabbage to not eating after a certain time of day or night. Much of the focus on these diets is on quick weight loss, rather than sound nutrition and long-term results.
Fad Diets: A High Price to Pay for Limited Results
Are such restrictive diet programs an effective way to lose weight and, more importantly, keep it off? Public health experts at the NIH say that "the key to successful weight loss is making changes in your eating and physical activity habits that you can keep up for the rest of your life."
Beyond leaving you feeling deprived, many fad diets may not provide you with the vital nutrition your body needs. The NIH recommends that 55 percent of total daily calories come from carbohydrates. Low-carbohydrate diets, which are intensely popular now, often restrict the consumption of carbs to extremely low levels. This kind of regimen can lead to fatigue and nausea, reports the NIH.
The public health community agrees that the best way to lose weight is to adopt a diet that meets your nutritional needs and is balanced. Your diet should allow you to occasionally have a piece of birthday cake and a piece of fresh bread with butter and, in short, enjoy your life rather than turn it into a "boot camp," as Ms. Winfrey's famous diet program is called.
Sources
The National Institutes of Health Weight-control Information Network
About the Author
Sarah Clark is a freelance writer based in Arlington, Virginia.
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