Wednesday, February 26, 2014

Fad Diets

Fad Diets, are they doing more harm than good?

Today’s society is focused on looking thin. Many people’s desire to look thin causes them to turn to diet pills and/or fad diets. However, most people do not realize that these fad diet or pills are actually causing more harm than good.

Diet Pills
Most diet pills are not approved by the FDA (Food and Drug Administration). What this means as a consumer is that most of these pills have never been proven to cause effective weight loss or have even been proven to be SAFE. In fact, these diet pills are not pulled off the market until enough people have had harmful side effects to prove the product is harmful. The FDA has found hundreds products to be tainted with harmful ingredients.



Fad Diets   
Always hearing about the newest diet, and hoping it will work for you? Many diets that promise quick weight loss involve cutting out major food groups and extreme calorie restriction. While you may loss a few pounds fast, you are probably going to gain the weight you lost just as fast plus a few extra pounds. The reason why is because your resting metabolic rate (how many calories your body burn at rest) declines in attempt to keep your body from starving. In fact, a person’s resting metabolic rate is still lower even after 12 weeks of normal food consumption. When choosing a healthier lifestyle, avoid “diets” that promise the following:
  • Rapid Weight Loss
  • Eliminates whole food groups
  • Uses specific food combinations
  • Have rigid menus that are hard to follow
  • No need to exercise
Looking for a Healthier Lifestyle
Eat well balance meals that include lots of fruits and veggies, looking at the USDA MyPlate is a great starting point.

Start aerobic exercise (such as walking, swimming, and biking) and resistance exercises (such as lifting weights). Aerobic and resistance exercise will let you burn more calories during the exercise and will increase your resting metabolic rate (so you burn more calories while sitting or sleeping).

Lastly, be HAPPY WITH YOU!    

 

Created by Shelby Young, Dietetic Intern



 
Resources
 


Marie Dunfaord and J. Andrew Doyle, Nutrition for Sports and Exercise 

 

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