Imagine browsing a bookstore (brick-and-mortar or otherwise) and coming across a book describing an intriguing new diet. Or maybe you’ve heard about this new eating plan on television, or while combing through the articles on your favorite newsy website. How can you tell whether a new diet plan is a healthy way to lose weight, or simply a fad diet, which is a diet based on the popularity of its claims, and not on any scientific evidence that it works?
First, you can talk to your doctor. You already know that you should not start a new diet plan without talking to a health care professional first, but you might not take it seriously. Losing weight too quickly or eating the wrong kinds of foods can have a negative impact on your healthy, so this is actually very important! If you’ve been in to see the doc recently, you don’t need to make an appointment; just give a quick ring and see if you can leave a message to have him call you back. If you have health problems already, he may need to see you, but otherwise, he can probably advise you over the phone.
Next, look at the diet plan itself, and ask yourself a few questions:
*Does it make promises that seem, well, too good to be true? If so, then it probably is too good to be true! Claims that this pill, book, or plan can help you lose 30 lbs in 30 days, for example, are not healthy or realistic. Neither are photos of women going from a size 22 to a size 10 in 8 weeks.
*Does it recommend cutting out an entire food group? Recommendations to severely restrict or eliminate carbohydrates or dairy products may be indicative of a fad diet. Some legitimate diets might recommend these measures, but this could be a huge red flag.
*Is it a cleansing diet? While these have their place in certain circumstances, they should not be used willy-nilly, and certainly should not be counted on as a regular way to eat. If you are considering a cleansing diet, be aware that it may be a dangerous fad diet, and make doubly certain to check with your doctor first.
*Does the diet promise permanent weight loss? You have to follow a healthy eating and exercise plan in order to maintain weight loss. There is no way to diet once and lose weight permanently with no effort on your part.
*Does it promise results without exercise? This is another red flag. Healthy weight loss includes moderate amounts of exercise.
*Does the diet rely on shakes, pills, and other non-food items? Again, this is not a healthy way to lose weight. A magic diet pill or shake does not exist; while it’s usually okay to substitute a meal with a shake occasionally, it’s not a good way to lose weight or keep weight off for the long term.
Although it can be hard to hear, the only way to reliably lose weight and keep it off is to follow a healthy, balanced diet and to exercise regularly. While fad diets may result in dramatic (temporary) weight loss, you will gain the weight back as soon as you stop the diet, and the diets are, by their very nature, difficult to stick to. Do yourself a favor: find a safe and effective diet plan, and stay away from the fad diets.