FAD FRENZY: 4 Ways to Know when a Diet is a Fad!

Fad diets come and go with ever changing trends and different celebrity endorsements.  Lets be honest we have all had an excuse to get on a fad diet. We had a wedding coming up in 2 weeks, or a high school reunion, or summer was around the corner. The diets sound exciting, easy to follow, celebrities look so good on that diet and everyone else is doing it! But if it looks to good to be true, it probably is. Lets take a look at 4 key ways to spot a fad diet:

Losing or maintaining a healthy weight is not easy and there is no magic bullet. We wish there was a quick fix but the truth is making small and consistent changes to your lifestyle will have far greater long-term results.
 
So how do we know what diets are a fad?? 

1. Promise of a large amount of weight loss in a short time

Weight loss should be gradual aiming for 500g-1kg per week so that your nutritional status is not compromised and you also maintain muscle mass. Any diet promising extreme amounts of weight in a short period of time is not healthy or sustainable.
​Research showed great weight lost in a short amount of time is likely to be regained some gaining more than they had lost. 

2. Labels foods as “bad” and restricts to a limited list of foods, excluding a wide range of nutritious food groups.

No foods should be labelled as “bad” as all foods have a place in our diet in reasonable amounts. Restricting foods is likely to limit nutrient intake and can result in nutrient deficiencies.
Limiting foods can also be isolating in social situations and removes the significance of certain foods in cultural settings.

3. Lack of scientific evidence to support diet claims, instead using dramatic transformation photos.

These diets often have no scientific evidence to support its claims and rely on anecdotal evidence to sell the products to you. These testimonials can be convincing, but please do your research and separate the fact from the usually well hidden fiction.

4. Promotes magic foods and pills, or potions.

Fad diets often promote a magic bullet product that promises the world but has limited scientific evidence. Not to mention they are also not kind on your wallet.
​There are supplements that have there place in nutrition particularly in sports/performance nutrition but it pays to do your research or ask your Dietitian or GP before taking any pills, powders or drinks. 

So What can i do?

Save your money and your time and start right back at the basics.  Long-term weight loss won’t come from a trend; it will come from making consistent lifestyle changes that can be maintained. Small changes now will lead to larger  & more consistent results later on.