For this entry I decided to take a step away from the body image topic and move towards some findings on health risks and legitimacy of diets. According to the International Food Information Council, "fad diet book authors take a scientific half-truth that is complex and use that as the basis for their arguments." Authors may simplify or expand upon biochemistry and physiology in an effort to help support their theories and provide a plethora of scientific jargon that people do not understand but that seems to make sense

Following a low-carbohydrate, high-protein diet will encourage the body to burn its own fat. Without carbohydrates, however, fat is not burned completely and substances called ketones are formed and released into the bloodstream. Abnormally high ketone levels in the body, or ketosis, may indeed make dieting easier, since they typically decrease appetite and cause nausea. However, ketosis also increases the levels of uric acid in the blood, which is a risk factor for gout and kidney disease in susceptible people. Additionally, according to Director of nutrition and University of Nevada Dr. St. Jeor, "following these diets can result in dehydration, diarrhea, weakness, headaches, dizziness, and bad breath, and over the long term, can also increase risk of atherosclerosis and osteoporosis."
How about the zone diet? According to the Food and Drug Administration, "it relies upon unproven claims based on case histories, testimonials, and uncontrolled studies that are not published in peer-reviewed journals."

After looking on several scientific websites almost all of them claimed the popular low carb and glycemic index diets to rely on testimonial and innacurate science. No diet or diet pill has ever been reccomended by the FCC, IFIC or FDA.

In my history, no health professional has every reccomended any diet to me. One nutritionist told me that if there were one diet which were at all credible it would be the plan of "weight watchers." His reasoning for this was that is does not restrict foods but rather promotes portion control, balance, and calorie intake based on your weight.

We need to start listening to the doctors and scientists of the field and stop falling for the false claims that bombard us when we have the weight gain blues.

Careful reading also led me to tips on how to spot a fad diet!

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  Claims or implies a large or quick weight loss of more than 1 to 2 pounds per week. Slow, gradual weight loss increases the chance of weight loss success and of keeping weight off over the long term.
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  Promotes magical or miracle foods. No foods can undo the long-term effects of overeating and not exercising or melt away fat.
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  Restricts or eliminates certain foods, recommends certain foods in large quantities, insists on eating specific food combinations, or offers rigid, inflexible menus.
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  Implies that weight can be lost and maintained without exercise and other lifestyle changes.
  Relies heavily on undocumented case histories, testimonials, and anecdotes but has no scientific research to back claims.
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  Contradicts what most trusted health professional groups say, or makes promises that sound too good to be true.

It is sometimes a hard truth to face, but maintaining and/or becoming healthy never comes easily. Once society begins to accept adequate nutrition and exercise as the ONLY lifestyle approporiate for health, the dieting corporations will start to sizzle out.