Considering a fad diet? Remember, there’s a reason they’re called “fad diets.” Foods or pills don’t magically burn fat. No products will miraculously melt fat while you watch TV or sleep. Looking for long-term weight loss? Fad diets aren’t your answer, and they could very well jeopardize your health severely.
- Fad diets promote a quick solution to weight loss
- Does not focus on the health of your body or mind
- “Healthy” is not defined by physical appearance
- Why they don’t work:
- Often limit/eliminate certain food groups
- Elimination of food groups make a diet unsustainable
- Typically, after diet “ends” people regain the weight that was lost as they tend to overindulge in foods that were restricted
- During the diet period, people often lose muscle mass which is directly related to metabolism
- As muscle mass decreases, metabolic rate decreases
- Tip: if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is
- How does it contribute to disordered eating?
- Causes categorization of foods such as “healthy” or “unhealthy”
- Can cause feelings of guilt/shame when you do indulge in foods that are “not part of the diet”
- Takes the enjoyment out of food and meal times
- So what does work?
- A balanced diet that includes ALL foods in moderation
- Eating intuitively…if you feel hungry that is your body telling you it needs nourishment!
- Our nutrient intake does not only affect us physically but also mentally
- To stay in a good headspace, you must nourish your body with what it needs
- This directly affects your personality and emotional well-being
Authored by Emily Baum, M.S., RDN, LD
