Why Fad Diets Don’t Work Over the Long Term
We all hear the hype about the latest breakthrough diet on a regular basis. From celebrities and social media influencers to best-selling books touting a sure-fire method for shedding pounds, somebody, somewhere is endorsing a diet that promises to succeed where countless others have failed. But guess what? This latest-and-greatest weight loss program will fail, as well. The awful truth is that fad diets don’t work over the long term, because they can’t.
As Cleveland Clinic aptly puts it, “Fad diets are eating plans that are often promoted as the ‘best’ or ‘fastest’ approach to losing weight. They can sound like a newly discovered ‘hack’ that promises a better, healthier you. Fad diets often involve eliminating certain foods, banning entire food groups or overselling the benefits of a particular food.”
The heart of a typical fad diet’s claim is that it can trick your body into a metabolic process that burns calories faster, prevents fat from being converted into extra weight, etc. Although the diet may be presented in scientific terms that seem to make sense, there’s no basis in reality. Because weight loss may occur in the initial weeks of the diet, those who follow it believe it’s working. But when staying on the diet becomes unsustainable due to its rigid rules and restrictions, dieters blame themselves for failing yet again – continuing an unhealthy cycle that takes both a physical and emotional toll. The weight lost is regained, setting up hope and expectations that the next new diet will succeed. The phrase, “yo-yo dieting” describes this destructive pattern.
Why Fad Diets Fail
Doctors and nutritionists agree that there are specific reasons fad diets fail to provide long-term weight loss. The following are the most significant:
Fad diets are unsustainable and restrictive – According to the Center for Healthy Eating and Activity Research (CHEER), “Most fad diets are based on elimination or deprivation of the body. Any diet based on restricting specific food groups, combining foods in a specific order or timing, or following rigid menus each day are typically unsustainable and harmful to your health. Such diets show quick results, but not because you are losing fat. Fad diets target fiber, lean muscle, and water weight loss. This type of weight loss causes deficiencies to nutrition, dehydration, and fatigue. Additionally, fad diets often focus on only caloric intake, but do not emphasize the importance of exercise and healthy lifestyle choices.”
Fad diets create nutrient deficiencies – Often, certain foods or macronutrients become the target of fad diets. But if you’re required to cut out an entire food group, the diet probably won’t last. You may also be at higher risk for nutrient deficiencies. As Healthline points out, cutting out foods and food groups – or significantly reducing caloric intake – can make it much harder to get the nutrients your body needs. For example, people following a strict vegan diet are at risk for vitamin B12 deficiency because the nutrient is found primarily in animal foods. Those who eat a very low carb diet – such as the keto diet – may not be getting enough fiber or other key vitamins and minerals, which can lead to side effects like constipation and muscle cramps. Moreover, such deficiencies can weaken the immune system and increase the risk of health problems.
Fad diets have a negative impact on metabolism – Severe calorie restriction can slow down metabolism, making it harder to lose weight and easier to regain it. The body may also start storing fat more easily as it anticipates a period of food scarcity.
Negative Effects After Ending a Fad Diet
Unfortunately, fad diets have other insidious effects. The following are the most common:
Fad diets have negative psychological effects – As mentioned earlier, fad diets can lead to feelings of guilt, anxiety and failure when people deviate from the plan. This can negatively impact mental health and contribute to disordered eating patterns.
People on fad diets regain the weight after discontinuing the diet – Once a fad diet is stopped, the weight lost is often quickly regained as the body returns to its normal metabolism and eating patterns. This can lead to a cycle of dieting and weight regain.
How Medical Weight Loss Provides a Solution That Achieves Long-Term Results
Unlike the pseudo-science of fad diets, medical weight loss utilizes GLP-1 medications to safely achieve significant results when prescribed by a doctor specializing in medical weight loss as part of a comprehensive program that includes diet and moderate exercise. William E. Newsome, M.D. – Medical Director and co-owner of Solutions Weight Loss – can put you on the road to success, beginning with your in-person consultation. During your first appointment, Dr. Newsome will measure your BMI, take your vital signs (body temperature, pulse rate, respiratory rate and blood pressure) and talk with you about your medical history to learn about any health conditions you’ve had or currently have.
During this appointment, Dr. Newsome will also have an in-depth conversation with you about your weight loss goals. If you feel frustrated by the lack of results and setbacks from previous weight loss programs and fad diets you’ve tried, Dr. Newsome will be able to relate to your experiences. He has been where you are, and knows that losing excess weight is a difficult and emotional process.
Based upon your consultation, Dr. Newsome will evaluate and prescribe for you the best medication treatment plan to achieve your goals. We offer high-quality, safe and affordable, compounded GLP-1 medications like semaglutide and tirzepatide – which you probably know under brand names like Wegovy®, Ozempic®, Zepbound®, or Mounjaro®. Research shows that when combined with one-on-one physician coaching, low-calorie diet and lifestyle changes, they are the safest and most effective approach to achieve sustainable weight loss. Our blog post – “The Benefits of Medical Appetite Control” – describes in detail how GLP-1 medications work to control appetite, as does our website’s Medications page.
Although GLP-1 medications are now getting the most attention, phentermine is an FDA-approved, once-daily diet pill that aids in weight loss by suppressing appetite. Available only with a doctor’s prescription, this stimulant and appetite suppressant is probably the most well-known weight loss medication in the world due to its relative safety and efficacy – recognized as a safe and effective way to decrease hunger while dieting. Based upon your consultation with Dr. Newsome, this may be the medication he determines will be best for your individual situation.
The doctor-patient relationship is essential to successful, sustainable weight loss. Dr. Newsome and our entire Solutions Weight Loss team are with you on every step of your medical weight loss journey! You’ll never feel that you’re on your own. You will know us, and we will know you – which allows us to give you the individual help and advice you need!
Our Record in Getting Significant, Sustained Results for Our Patients
Solutions Weight Loss internal results prove our medically supervised program is effective at driving long-term improvements to metabolic health and weight loss, with an average of 21% weight loss at 12 months; 19.1% at 18 months, and 18.9% at 24 months. Our members have also decreased their waist circumference by 7 inches, on average. These results are superior to the weight loss seen in clinical trials for GLP-1 medications. Regardless of which medication they take, our members have demonstrated significant and sustained results!
See what makes Solutions Weight Loss the #1 weight loss clinic in Florida! Schedule your consultation with Dr. Newsome here, or call 407-413-5503, and experience the benefits of today’s metabolic approach to sustainable weight loss! End the frustrating cycle of serial dieting and start living your best life!
