In the News - February 2008
Fad diets harmful to wallet and health
TEXARKANA, Ark. - Fad diets are nothing new. The first recorded fad diet was
reported in 1820 - made popular by Lord Byron - was the vinegar and water diet.
It was followed over the years by other crazy diets such as the tapeworm diet
and the maple syrup diet.
"Numerous fad diets have bitten the dust over the years," says Carla Haley,
Miller County agent with the University of Arkansas Cooperative Extension
Service. "Most fad diets have come and gone with little long-term success."
A fad diet is defined by the American Dietetic Association as "unreasonable
or exaggerated beliefs that eating (or not eating) specific foods, nutrient
supplements or combinations of certain foods may cure disease, convey special
health benefits or offer quick weight loss."
Consumers are spending billions of dollars to diet. In 2004, $43 billion was
spent on weight-loss products in this country.
"Many people are wasting their money on fad diets that won’t provide them
with long-term benefits or good health," Haley said. "Consumers are getting
information that isn’t reliable and may be a danger to their health, not to
mention their wallet."
Despite what we want to believe, there are no quick fixes to weight loss,
according to Haley. The only true way to lose weight and keep it off is to
balance the amount of calories we consume with the number of calories we use
through physical activity.
"Most fad diets don’t’ teach new eating habits and rely on you giving up
whole food groups and your favorite foods," Haley said.
To determine if a new diet, study or recommendation is healthful, Haley
suggests asking yourself these questions:
- Does it seem too good to be true by offering a quick fix with no
diet or exercise?
- Does the product offer a guaranteed cure or promote a limited-time
offer?
- Does it describe foods as "good" or "bad?"
- Is the source of the information, such as a book author, trying to
sell products such as supplements?
- Does it require you to avoid foods or entire food groups?
- Reputable
studies show that balance and variety are both needed for good health.
- Is the product’s claims backed by a body of scientific research or
a reputable scientific or professional organization?
A yes to any of the first five questions or no to last question should
disqualify the diet from consideration. Keep your money in your wallet, Haley
advises.
"Instead, develop a healthy weight loss plan just for you that incorporates
all of the food groups from MyPyramid and emphasizes daily exercise," she says.
MyPyramid was developed to coincide with the Dietary Guidelines for Americans
(the 2005 version). MyPyramid allows you to develop a personalized plan that
will provide you with a balanced diet and give you the tools needed to achieve
long-term success.
MyPyramid can be found at
www.mypyramid.gov.
Successful weight loss (losing weight and keeping it off) is accomplished by
making positive lifestyle changes. This involves making realistic and wise
goals, achieving slow weight loss (no more than two pounds per week), eating a
healthy well-balanced diet and engaging in physical activity. To lose weight or
keep it off, you need 60-90 minutes of exercise every day. This amount of
exercise can be broken down throughout the day.
For more information about weight loss through proper exercise and nutrition,
contact your county extension office or visit www.uaex.edu
and select Health and Nutrition. The Cooperative Extension Service is part of
the U of A Division of Agriculture.
February 1, 2008
Media Contact: Lamar James
Extension Communications Specialist
U of A Division of Agriculture
Cooperative Extension Service
(501) 671-2187 or (501) 753-0207
ljames@uaex.edu
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