A fad diet is a popular dietary pattern that promises quick weight loss without robust scientific evidence to support its claims. They are often promoted as the “best” or “fastest” approach to losing weight and can sound like a newly discovered “hack” that promises a better, healthier you. Fad diets often involve eliminating certain foods, banning entire food groups, or overselling the benefits of a particular food. Some fad diets hype specific foods, while others suggest you should go overboard on some foods, such as those that contain probiotics.
Fad diets can be tempting as they promise a quick fix to a long-term problem, but restrictive or unbalanced diets can lead to nutrient deficiencies and health risks. Most fad diets are associated with some degree of nutritional or health risk, and they offer a short-term solution to a long-term problem. Fad diets often consist of expensive and unnecessary food products, ingredients, and/or supplements.
The harm of fad diets is that many of them will lead to initial weight loss, but this weight loss is often lean muscle and fluid loss instead of body fat. Often these diets cannot be followed long term as many people become fed up with the rigid rules and limits. Fad diets can also lead to quick weight regain.
Its easy to spot a fad diet as they typically share some or all of the following characteristics:
- Promises a quick fix
- Promotes magic foods or combinations of foods
- Implies that food can change body chemistry
- Excludes or severely restricts food groups or nutrients, such as carbohydrates
- Has rigid rules that focus on weight loss
- Makes claims based on a single study or testimonials only
The safest way to lose weight is to follow a balanced eating plan that includes a variety of nutritious foods and physical activity. Dietitians have recognized qualifications and are regulated, and they can guide you through the maze of dietary information that surrounds us and give you safe, unbiased, evidence-based advice.
