fad diets

Question
Hey! I'm a student at Missouri State University and I'm doing a research project on fad diets how they misinform the public about nutrition and weight loss.  I have a couple of questions regarding the subject. 1- Would you say that the popularity of fad diets creates problems for dietitians? If so, what is the biggest problem they prose and how do dietitians correct this problem? 2- What, in your opinion, is the unhealthiest fad diet? (Ex:Atkins, Southbeach, Slimfast, low-fat) 3- What are some dieting myths you are aware of...for example, people think you gain fat if you eat late at night or people think if you stop eating as often then you will lose weight.
Thanks!
Haley Powell

Answer
Hello,

First of all the word "fad" in my opinion is no four-letter word. Atkins is fad though gradually is becoming a history but it did many people good. South Beach diet is very close to current official recommendations and took America by storm only because it returned them to common sense approach to eating as opposite to the previous USDA pyramid with pasta in the base.

Now, to your # 1 question: the major dietitians' problem is not diet fads but the time gap between scientific research discoveries and the moment they get into dietitians' textbooks.

How they correct the problem? Most of they don't, considering the aggressiveness with which they oppose all that's absent in their textbooks.

#2: The unhealthiest diet ever has been the low-fat, high carbohydrate USDA Food Guide Pyramid-based.

I agree when physiologists state that it caused the obesity epidemics because I'm aware of hundreds experimental and clinical data. BTW, these data existed for decade but the official diet taught to dietitians stood the ground.

#3:

1) Breakfast is most important meal of the day;
2) Your body cant live without carbohydrates;
3) Eating fat makes you fat.

You might want to read more on the topic:

Fad Diets of 1980s
http://dietandbody.com/article1026.html

Are Low Carb Diets The Best Way To Lose Body Fat?
http://dietandbody.com/lowcarb_pro_cons.html

Cabbage Soup Diet: Research Shows Health Benefits of Cabbage
http://dietandbody.com/article1015.html

Why Low-Carb Diets Bite
http://dietandbody.com/eDiets_changes_opinion.html

http://dietandbody.com/South_Beach_review.html
Considering South Beach? Read This First!


Hope it helps,

Tanya Zilberter, PhD

PS. I hope my opinion will be credited properly.

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