Beware of Fad Diets

With the growing rate of obesity in the United States, people are constantly looking for a quick solution for their weight problems.  As a result, the popularity of fad diets has increased.  Examples of fad diets include the Atkins Diet, the Southbeach Diet, the Grapefruit Diet, and the Cabbage Soup Diet.  These diets offer rapid weight loss, but often require that particular foods or food groups be given up.  These diets do not offer realistic opportunities for weight loss.
If you are ocnsidering a particular diet, the American Dietetic Association encourages you to ask yourself the following questions to determine if the diet is considered to be a fad:

• Does the diet promise a quick fix?
• Does the diet require you to stop eating certain foods, food groups, or products?
• Does the diet rely on a single study as the basis for its recommendations?
• Does the diet contradict recommendations of reputable health organizations?
• Does the diet identify "good" and "bad" foods?
• Does the diet sound too good to be true?

If the answer to any of these questions is yes, the diet you are considering is more than likely classified as a fad diet.
The best way to maintain weight, lose weight, or to achieve a healthy lifestyle is to find a meal plan that includes a variety of foods and is realistic.  If the diet promotes weight loss, weight should be decreased at a rate of 1/2 to 1-1/2 pound per week.

If you are not sure of how to incorporate a healthy meal plan into your life, a nutrition professional can help you develop a healthy meal plan that is right for you and will allow you to achieve your nutritional goals.

The health department has two registered dietitians that provide free nutrition counseling.  For more information or to schedule an appointment with a dietitian, call the health department at 683-2191.