Fad diets and quick-fix weight loss programs abound and make claims of easy, no-fail weight loss. Some are yo-yo diets where you put the weight back on when you stop the diet, some severely restrict caloric intake, and still others proclaim the superiority of one particular food item or group. Although fad diets aren't considered healthy diet changes, they still attract the attention of people everywhere.

Generally speaking, no "miracle diet" exists. Some fad diets consider fluid loss equivalent to weight loss, but little actual fat is lost. Many actually put your health at risk. Below is a list of some of the better-known fad diets, along with some information and warnings about each.

Atkins allows large amounts of fat and protein to be consumed, while severely restricting carbohydrates. Most pastas, fruits and breads are restricted. When the human body cannot get the energy it needs from carbohydrates, it breaks down fat and muscle (essentially, this is the first step towards starvation). Substances called ketones form in the bloodstream. On the Atkins diet, appetite is suppressed, but nausea, fatigue and fluid loss can all increase.

Atkins' high fat, low carbohydrate menus have raised many concerns amongst dieticians about the risk of heart disease increasing in people who follow the Atkins diet over long periods of time. Weight loss may be due more to total calorie restrictions than low carbohydrates per se.

The Hollywood diet claims that drinking a specially formulated combination of juices, vitamins and minerals will cleanse the body and promote weight loss. Meant for short-term use, the Hollywood diet is essentially a two day fast. Its results are, at best, temporary.

This fad is based on the assumption that grapefruit contains fat-burning enzymes. You eat half a grapefruit before every meal, and calorie intake is usually restricted to around 800 calories a day. This is a dangerously low amount, especially when combined with the program's suggestion that you drink large amounts of caffeine-based drinks. Scientifically, no fat-burning enzymes have ever been found in grapefruit.

This is another weight-reducing program designed for short-term use. On the cabbage soup diet, only cabbage soup is eaten for a week. The end result is, supposedly, a loss of ten to fifteen pounds. The soup recipe used for the cabbage soup diet cannot provide the body with all the nutrients it needs, and many people report feeling weak and lightheaded after a few days.

This program offers a restricted calorie intake (about 1,000 calories) for a three-day period. Foods allowed are restricted, and the body tends to lose water rather than fat. The 3 Day Diet is not meant to be used for longer than three days, and the lost weight quickly returns.

Claiming a pound a day weight loss, the Scarsdale diet is very low in carbohydrates and certain vitamins and minerals. It claims to work on chemical reactions in the body. The Scarsdale diet recommends the use of herbal appetite suppressants, which can aggravate heart problems in people with existing heart conditions.

Another low carbohydrate/high fat diet, the Zone diet aims at a breakdown of forty percent carbohydrates, thirty percent protein and thirty percent fat in each meal. Planning meals on the Zone is highly frustrating. Low levels of carbohydrates, fiber and certain vitamins and minerals can occur when following the Zone.

Resources

Grieger, L. (nd). Diets A-to-Z.

Public Health—Seattle & King County. (2001, January 5). Obesity on the rise—healthy eating and exercise are urged.

WKYC. (2001). Hollywood Diet best left for the stars.