There are many diets out there as most of you are aware. We will see many more to come in our future, but how do you know which are good or bad? This is something many people struggle with based on encouragements from media, society, or friends. Every year, women spend billions of dollars on diet books, low calorie foods, weight loss drugs, etc because they believe that they’re not acceptable unless they’re thin. The same can be for men too, but sometimes it’s more than just restricting foods. Below are other diets that may not necessarily be good for you but have been promoted on television, social media, newspapers, or online.

The Atkins Diet

This diet was revolutionized by a Cardiologist named Robert Atkins, MD which promotes minimizing consumption of carbohydrates. This is done by ingesting Atkins Diet products and preparing those foods and supplements that he profits on.

• Low carb (Ketogenic)
• Sells on the go products for participants to adapt their diet.
• Allows the use of sugar alcohols to sweeten foods and products.

Intermediate Fasting 16:8 Diet

This is promoted on the Today’s Show website, titled Intermediate fasting made easy: What to know about the 16:8 diet. It’s a diet based on therapeutic fasting for 16 hours and followed by 8 hours of eating whatever you want. Most participants saw modest weight-loss over a 12-week cycle.

• No changes in food you current eat, just restricted on when you can eat them.
• No increase in healthy foods like vegetables.
• It reinforces poor eating habits by allowing participants to eat only in a short window of time a day.

Smoothie/Detox diet:

This diet was found in an article of the Woman's World, titled Lose Up to 12 Pounds in 72 Hours on the Smoothie Detox Diet. This diet calls for a specific vegetable and fruit smoothie regimen to be used for a 72-hour window of time. The diet "promises" a 12-pound weight loss. 

• Short term diet
• No long term changes in eating habits or behaviors around food.
• Not a sustainable diet 

7-Day 1,200 Calorie Diet:

This diet was found in an article from the Good House Keeping magazine, titled A 7-Day, 1,200-Calorie Meal Plan. In the article there were no real diet tips other than the meal plan provided to follow. It’s a diet based on calories in vs calories out.

• The meal plan consists of 3 meals/day that are low in fat.
• Low calorie diet
• Not successful long term, very restricting diet.

Slim-Fast:

This diet is built of eating three snacks, two meals or shakes, and a 1,500 calorie regular meal. This diet requires purchases from the company who created the Slim-Fast diet.

• The dieter selects snack bars, meal bars, or shakes to follow the diet. 
• Not successful long term, very restricting diet.
• Can be an expensive diet because it requires all meals/snacks from their products.

South Beach Diet:

This diet was created by Dr. Arthur Agatson for his patients to help promote healthy fats, carbohydrates, normal portion sizes, with plenty of vegetables, eggs, cheese, and nuts. This diet is introduced in phases and has the goal of making the dieter more aware of the effects of healthy foods vs unhealthy foods on the body. It restricts food choices in the beginning and slowly adds alcohol and other carb heavy foods back into the diet.

• Very restrictive diet in the beginning.
• Not successful long term.
• Rapid weight-loss in the beginning, but no consistency.
• No long term changes in eating habits or behaviors around food.

Weight Watchers:

This diet claims to no be a fad diet as it’s a lifetime commitment related to conscious choices around food. It combines healthy eating with portion control, and support through meetings. Firmly believes that having a support group where others can relate to each other’s struggles is required to help promote change in habits related to weight gain. Dieters are charged for educational books, foods, and meetings.

• Can be long term if dieters continue to pay for food and support meetings.
• Can be an expensive diet because it requires all meals/snacks from their products.
• Food is chosen based on a point system from calories, fat, and fiber.

Nutrisystem:

Is a 40-year-old trademarked system of foods that the dieter selects from a list of foods that can be ordered from the company. It’s individualized to men, women, or diabetics. The dieter makes food selections for 28 days and the company sends the food. A health coach is also provided to help the dieter lose weight. The diet encourages supplementing with fresh fruit or vegetables but emptying your house of all other food sources. It also encourages exercise and support online.

• Can be an expensive diet because it requires all meals/snacks from their products.
• Can be long term if dieter commits to buying their products all their life.
• No long term changes in eating habits or behaviors around food that aren’t provided to them from company.

Big take away points:

• There are lots of diets out there and there is no universal diet that works for everyone. 
• Diet does need to be focused on quality foods not the quantity of foods.
• Using the calories in vs calories out is not the full picture of weight loss.
• Use a diet that works for your body not because you see other people doing it or are told to from encouraging media.
• Diet needs to be a lifestyle change and not a short term approach. 
• A diet should offer variety in foods or flavors. Otherwise it’s just restrictive.