Title: UNSAFE WEIGHT LOSS METHODS
1UNSAFE WEIGHT LOSS METHODS
- Wafaa Ayesh
- Masc.in Nutrition Food Science
2Teen Dieting
- Time Magazine reports that 80 of children have
been on a diet by the time they reach the 4th
grade. - 81 of ten-year-olds are afraid of being fat.
(Mellin,et.al, 1992) - The most common behavior that will lead to an
eating disorder is dieting. (AABA, 1998)
3Teen Dieting
- Too often, teenagers believe that they are
supposed to look a certain way. - The media presents us with unrealistically thin
models. The average woman is 54 tall and weighs
140 lbs. The average model is 511 tall and
weighs 117 lbs. (Smolak, 1996) - Pre-teen and young teen girls go through normal
and necessary body changes (hips broaden, breasts
develop) and no longer look like the models on TV
and in magazines.
4Dangerous Plans
- FASTING
- FAD DIETS
- DIET DRUGS
- VERY LOW CALORIE DIETS
5Dangerous Plans
- Many people try total fasting or self-imposed
starvation to lose weight. - This is perhaps the most problematic method of
weight loss and can damage tissues, body fluids,
mineral supplies, and vital organs. - Diet Aids, such as Dexatrim or PhenPhen promise
the same results as diet plans but with little or
no change in eating or exercise lifestyle.
Generally, they are a health risk and are often
make claims that are too good to be - true.
61-FASTING
- Fasting is a widely used method of weight loss
because it gives fast results. - With little or no calories being consumed, weight
is, of course, lost because the body is feeding
off of its self. - Up to 50 percent of the weight lost is from lean
body mass, which is muscle. - This is a very undesirable result and is the last
thing you want to happen when you want to reduce
body fat.
7FASTING
- Lean body mass or muscle, is the fat burning
engines of your body. - When your body eats muscle for nutrition, you are
losing these metabolic engines which are needed
to burn your body fat. - As a result, when you start eating again, more of
the calories are stored as fat rather than being
burned for energy. This is the yo yo diet
syndrome that you have probably read about. - The more you starve yourself, the more muscle you
lose and the fatter you get. - In addition to losing lean body mass, fasting
results in malnutrition and loss of important
minerals.
8 2-FAD DIETS
Anyone who wants to believe in them is forced to
wonder how the thousands of scientists working on
obesity research over the past century could
possibly have missed such obvious connections.
- Understanding Nutrition, 8th ed. Pg 251
9What is a Fad Diet?
- A fad diet is a weight loss plan or aid that
promises dramatic results. These diets don't
offer long-term success, and they are usually not
very healthy. American Academy of Family
Physicians
10How to identify Fad Diets
- Promise dramatic, rapid weight loss
- Promote diets that are nutritionally unbalanced
or extremely low in calories - Use liquid formulas rather than foods.
- Attempt to make clients dependent upon special
foods or devices. - Fail to encourage permanent, realistic lifestyle
changes. - Understanding Nutrition, 8th ed. Pg 253
11How to identify Fad Diets
- Promote unproven or spurious weight-loss aids
such as starch blockers, diuretics, sauna belts,
body wraps, passive exercise, ear stapling,
acupuncture, electric muscle-stimulating devices,
amino acid supplements, unique ingredients, etc - Fail to provide for weight maintenance after the
program ends. - Understanding Nutrition, 8th ed. Pg 253
12If fad diets don't work, why are they so popular?
- People are often willing to try anything that
promises to help them lose weight because they
want to look or feel better, or because they are
worried about getting weight-related diseases.
Companies that promote fad diets take advantage
of this fact. - They appeal to people by promising weight loss
that's very quick and easy. - Many people prefer to try the quick fix of a fad
diet instead of making the effort to lose weight
through long-term changes in their eating and
exercise habits. - American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP)
Website http//familydoctor.org/784.xml
13If fad diets don't work, why are they so popular?
- Fad diets also become popular because many of
them do work for a short time. In many cases,
this is because when you stop eating certain
types of food or eat special combinations of
foods, you are getting fewer calories than you
normally would. You are also paying more
attention to what you are eating. However, its
likely that much of the weight you lose is from
water and lean muscle, not body fat. Also, most
people are not able to keep up with the demands
of a diet that strictly limits their food choices
or requires them to eat the same foods over and
over again. People who use fad diets usually end
up gaining back any weight that they lost. - American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP)
Website http//familydoctor.org/784.xml
14Fad Diets and Eating Disorders
- 35 of normal dieters progress to pathological
dieting. Of those, 20-25 progress to partial or
syndrome eating disorders. (Shisslak Crago,) - The popularity of fad diets perpetuates the idea
that being thin is more important than being
healthy. - According to a recent study, ½ of females between
the age of 18-25 would prefer to be run over by a
truck than be fat. (Graessar,)
15How to recognize a fad diet
- Advocates magic or miracle foods that burn fat.
- Recommends bizarre quantities of only one food or
type of food. - Forces one to adhere to a rigid menu.
- Touts benefits of specific food combinations.
- Promises rapid weight loss (gt2 lbs. per week)
- Does not include a health warning for those with
chronic diseases. - Requires NO increased physical activity.
- Sounds too good to be true.
16Popular Fad Diets
- South Beach Diet
- Atkins Diet Revolution
- Scarsdale Medical Diet
- Grapefruit Diet
- Enter the Zone Diet
- 3-Day Diet
17South Beach Diet
- Eat as much as you want, BUT avoid sugars and
refined-foods carbohydrates. - Phase One- 2 weeks of strict dieting avoid
nearly all carbs. Most people lose between 8-13
lbs. - Phase Two- Good carbs slowly introduced into
diet. - Phase Three- Return to Phase One if weight
- gain begins again.
18Atkins Diet Carbohydrates are bad
Picture from
http//www.faddiet.com/atkinsdiet.html
19Dr. Atkins Diet Revolution
- Eat NO MORE THAN 20 grams of carbohydrates per
day. - Avoid ALL breads, cereals, grains, sugars, pasta,
rice, flour, soda, juice, fruit, alcohol - Some vegetables are allowed if consumed in small
quantities. The dieter is advised to stick with
free meats, eggs, and cheeses. Advocates LOW
carbs and HIGH fat.
20Scarsdale Medical Diet Plan
- Requires dieter to follow a strict diet regimen
for 7 days. - Must consume at least 4 glasses of water or diet
soda per day. - Coffee, lean meat, vegetables, and melons or
grapefruit make up the majority of the diets
food guidelines.
21 Grapefruit Diet
- Promises that the dieter will lose 52 lbs. in 2½
months! - Must drink 64 oz. water daily. Must adhere to a
strict list of haves and have nots. Cannot
eliminate ANYTHING from the diet and must consume
the minimum amount required at each meal. - Advises the dieter to, Eat until you are
stuffed. The more you eat, the more weight you
will lose. - Includes grapefruits or juice, any meat, and
salad with dressing.
22Enter the Zone Diet
- Strict 40-30-30 eating plan. 40
carbohydrates, 30 fat and 30 protein. - Claims to use the biochemical effects of food on
hormone production and metabolic activity. The
Zone refers to a supposed state of optimal
health, peak performance, and weight control.
23 3-Day Diet
- Similar to the Scarsdale diet, but offers a wide
variety of food and necessitates a VERY detailed
eating plan. - Dieters are instructed to measure each food
(usually ½ or 1 cup per serving) and are told to
eat toast, peanut butter, veggies, apples,
crackers, vanilla ice cream, and beef franks.
Again, the diet stresses the importance of eating
these foods in a certain specific order.
24High-Carbohydrate Diets
- Diets like the Pritikin Diet Plan or the
Save-Your-Life Diet recommend high fiber and high
carbs. - These diets are as unhealthy they can lead to
lowered immunity and poor wound healing because
of lower fat and protein intake.
25Science of Low-Carbohydrate Diets
- Carbohydrates are the bodys main source of
energy. Excess carbohydrates are converted to
fat and stored as fat tissue. - When on a low carbohydrate diet, the body uses
fats from foods and fats stored in the body for
energy.
26Science of Low Carbohydrate Diets
- When carbohydrates are in short supply, the body
cannot completely break down fat. As a result,
ketone bodies are formed. Large amounts of water
is excreted. - This water loss can cause dehydration.
- Ketones accumulate in the blood, causing ketosis.
- This state forces the body to burn calories
similar to a state of starvation. This is
DANGEROUS, especially over a long period of time.
27Psychology of Dieting
- Fad diets are SO popular because they promise
FAST weight loss with MINIMAL effort. In our
fast-paced society, this is a very tempting
offer. - Americans are obsessed. The weight loss industry
in the U.S. rakes in 37 billion dollars a year.
28Psychology of Dieting
- A study of four popular fad diets discovered
another problem while they claim to be easy to
follow, most people cannot adhere to them. A
third of participants dropped out of the more
healthy Weight Watchers and Zone diets. About
half could not complete the Atkins Diet or the
vegetarian Ornish Diet Plan. - Source
Tufts University
29Psychology of Dieting
- The study also noted that, while initial weight
loss may be high, the participants had only lost
about 5 of body weight after one year. - This weight loss is comparable to a 200 lb.
individual shedding 10 lbs. Most dieters hope to
shed about 30 lbs. - Even unhealthy weight loss can be DISCOURAGING!
303-DIET DRUGS
- Diet drugs should be approached with extreme
caution. Most diet drugs work by affecting the
hypothalamus. - It will decrease feelings of hunger and increase
satiety or the feeling of fullness. - Many of these drugs are not sufficiently tested
and can have dangerous side effects. - A good example of this are the popular drugs
Phentermine and Fenfluramine. - These are more commonly known as Phen Fen.
- Many doctors prescribed these drugs for weight
loss. - While successful weight loss has been reported,
the weight is regained after drug use is
discontinued. - In addition, several serious health problems,
including pulmonary hypertension and heart valve
problems have been associated with the use of
these drugs
31DIET DRUGS
- Diet drugs have become very popular because they
are viewed as a magic pill. Dieters are always
on the lookout for a quick and easy weight loss
cure. - The dieters hope is that the magic pill will
provide weight loss without effort and without
changing the unhealthy lifestyle that caused the
weight problem. - Drugs are not the answer for most, and in many
cases can cause many more serious problems.
32National Nutrition Month 07
American Dietetics Association www.eatright.org
33Key Messages National Nutrition Month 07
- Develop an eating plan for lifelong health. Too
often people adopt the latest food fad rather
than focusing on overall health. Get back to
basics and use the Dietary Guidelines 2005 and
MyPyramid as your guide to healthy eating. - American Dietetics Association www.eatright.org
34Key Messages National Nutrition Month 07
- Choose foods sensibly by looking at the big
picture. A single food or meal doesnt make or
break a healthful diet. When consumed in
moderation in the appropriate portion size, all
foods can fit into a healthful diet. - American Dietetics Association www.eatright.org
35Key Messages National Nutrition Month 07
- Food and nutrition misinformation can have
harmful effects on your health and well-being, as
well as your wallet. - Dietitians are uniquely qualified to communicate
current and emerging science-based nutrition
information and are an instrumental part of
developing a diet plan that is unique to your
particular needs. - American Dietetics Association www.eatright.org
36Key Messages National Nutrition Month 07
- Learn how to spot a food fad. Unreasonable or
exaggerated claims that eating (or not eating)
specific foods, nutrient supplements or
combinations of foods may cure disease or offer
quick weight loss are key features of fad
diets. - American Dietetics Association www.eatright.org
37Key Messages National Nutrition Month 07
- Find your balance between food and physical
activity. - Regular physical activity is important for your
overall health and fitness plus it helps control
body weight, promotes a feeling of well-being and
reduces the risk of chronic diseases. - American Dietetics Association www.eatright.org
38Weight Loss Tips
- Emphasize nutrient dense foods
- Eat small portions of foods at each meal
- Share a restaurant meal with a friend or take
home half for lunch tomorrow - Make legumes, grains, vegetables, and fruits
central to your diet plan - Follow the Dietary Guidelines
- Eat slowly
- Limit high-fat foods
- Limit concentrated sweets and alcoholic beverages
- Drink plenty of water
- Participate in physical activity regularly
- Limit liquid calories choose whole fruits rather
than juices, and avoid sugary soft drinks. - Understanding Nutrition,
8th ed. Pgs 268-269
39THINK POSITIVELY
- Be realistic.
- Make small changes.
- Be adventurous.
- Enjoy a variety of foods.
- Be flexible.
- You can fit in special treats.
- Be sensible.
- Enjoy all foods.
- Be active.
-Get creative with your recreational activities.
40Thank you