The Problem With Fad Diets
Exploring the Most Common Diets and Why They Fail
Atkins, Sugar Busters! and diet pills are all part of a multi-billion dollar industry but they have done little to fix the obesity problem in America.
Diet foods, exercise equipment, weight loss pills, fad diet books and media make up a multi-billion dollar industry that grows on a yearly basis, yet something doesn't connect. Americans are more concerned with weight than ever before yet obesity statistics show more Americans are overweight or obese today than ever before.
According to AnneCollins.com the latest obesity rates show that eight out of every ten adults over the age of 25 are overweight and 78% of all American adults are not meeting basic activity level recommendations. Children are fairing no better, 1982 statistics showed that 4% of children were overweight in the United States; just 12 years later the percentage jumped to 16% and in 2001 25% of all Caucasian children were overweight, 33% of African American and Hispanic children were deemed overweight in the same year.
Exploring Fad Diets
Americans seem to fall all over fad diets, but the weight doesn't stay away for long or the diet is so restrictive that sticking to it for the long haul is near impossible. The weight comes back with additional pounds and another fad diet is tried that promises quicker and permanent results. A cycle is established that is emotionally, physically and mentally damaging and the only people who benefit are the sellers of fad diets.
The Atkins' Diet tells people to eat fewer carbs and more protein to lose weight. Atkins' relies on the concept that too many carbohydrates is what has caused the obesity epidemic. Upon first glance the diet promises wonderful things. Dieters are given the ability to eat all the meat, fish, eggs and cheese they want. There is no restriction on butter or oil, but alcohol is out of the question as are most fruits, vegetables, breads and milk.
Sugar Busters! suggests that sugar is toxic and is the leading cause of obesity. Under the regime dieters must restrict high glycemic-index foods. Protein and fat are to be enjoyed and alcohol is allowed in moderation. Dieters are told to cut out potatoes, white rice, a myriad of vegetables, white bread and all foods containing refined white flour. Fruits are also discouraged.
A myriad of diet pills are currently on the market, both over the counter and prescription pills exist. Diet pills all follow a similar philosophy: they allow dieters to eat what they like while still losing weight. The way in which the pill approaches the weight loss differs from pill to pill but many rely on speeding up heart rates in an attempt to burn fat quicker.
What is Wrong with the Fads?
Atkins' converts essentially fail because the limited food choice is difficult to maintain over the long term. The diet also cuts out essential foods that are necessary to overall health. It has been found that initial weight loss, that most dieters hail as a miracle, is essentially water weight.
Sugar Busters! Dieters initially lose weight because of caloric restriction; however the long-term success of such a program is dismal. Cutting out such a wide array of foods makes maintaining the lifestyle over a long period of time nearly impossible.
Diet pills teach converts nothing. Sure the concept would work, in theory, however someone can not stay on a pill forever. Once they are off the pill and their metabolism returns to normal the foods they are eating quickly pack the pounds back on, in short diet pills elevate a problem short term but never teach the dieter how to maintain their own weight through responsible eating.
