1. Welcome to the seminar on An overview of Fad Diets Meera Kaur, Ph.D., R.D. Department of Family Medicine Kaur@cc.umanitoba.ca http://home.cc.umanitoba.ca/~kaur

2. Learning Objectives  To understand What is fad diet Why fad Diets Safety and efficacy of Fad diets Various types of fad diets The good, the bad and the ugly diets 2

3. Outline  Definition  Why Fad Diets  Working principles, efficacy etc.  Various types of Fad diets  At the bottom line 3

4. Definition Web Definition: a reducing diet that enjoys temporary popularity Medical Dictionary Definition: Any of a number of weight-reduction diets that either eliminate one or more of the essential food groups, or recommend consumption of one type of food in excess at the expense of other foods; FDs rarely follow modern principles for losing weight. See 4

5. Why Fad diets? To Before After 5

6. Fad Diets: working principles  Efficacy Weight loss often quicker Loss of glycogen (low CHO) and water Very low calorie Satiety: protein and fat Health parameters Secondary to weight loss Long term Little difference Adherence lower 6

7. The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly 7

8. Fad Diets: The Good  Get with the Program or Best Life diet  Weight Watchers  Canada’s Food Guide The best, but it’s boring 8

9. Get With The Program or Best Life Diet Bob Greene, PhD  Premise: Focus on small phased changes, food journaling, exercise and balanced diet. Limits fat and alcohol  Negative Health Implications: None 9

10. Weight Watchers Weight Watchers International  Premise: Foods are assigned a point value based on fat, fibre, and calories. Number of points limited per day based on actual weight. Exercise encouraged. Support system important, with weekly weigh-ins.  Negative Health Implications: None. 10

11. Eating Well with Canada’s Food Guide – NEW 2007  http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/fn-an/food-guide- aliment/index_e.html http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/fn-an/food-guide- aliment/index_e.html 11

12. Fad Diets: The Bad  South Beach  Sugar Busters  The Zone  Dr. Phil’s Ultimate Weight Solution 12

13. South Beach Diet Arthur Agatston, MD  Premise: Limiting total carbs and increasing protein, while choosing the “right fats and the right carbs” you will lose weight as you will have less cravings.  Negative Health Implications: Lacks fibre in the first two weeks, lacks vitamins and minerals in the first two weeks. Rules difficult to follow. Based on faulty science. 13

14. Sugar Busters H. Leighton Steward; Morrison C. Berthea, M.D.; Sam S. Andrews, M.D.; and Luis A. Balart, M.D. Premise: Sugar is toxic, causing the body to release insulin and store excess body sugar as body fat. Negative Health Implications: Kidney and liver damage, fatigue, weakness and irritability. 14

15. Enter the Zone Barry Sears, Ph.D. Premise: Follow rigid, obscure rules, such as eating in “macronutrient blocks” and eliminating carbohydrates. Negative Health Implications: Nutrient deficiency, increased risk of coronary heart disease, high cholesterol. 15

16. Dr. Phil’s Ultimate Weight Solution Phil McGraw, PhD  Premise: Uses Glycemic Index, supplements and behaviour coaching to promote weight loss.  Negative Health Implications : Supplement use questionable. 16

17. Fad Diets: The Ugly  Eat right for Your type  Suzanne Somers (food combining)  Protein Power  Herbal Magic (supplements/herbal remedies)  Atkins 17

18. Eat Right For Your Type Peter J. D’Adamo, N.D.  Premise: claims that an individual’s blood type should determine what to eat and to avoid. When a particular blood type consumes "off-limit" foods, the effect is akin to a transfusion of mismatched blood. Recommended caloric intake varies widely from day to day.  Negative Health Implications: Current scientific research does not support D’Adamo’s claim that blood type determines an individual’s response to certain foods. 18

19. Sommersize (etc.) Suzanne Sommers  Premise: These diets maintain that eating foods in certain combination will help you burn fat more effectively, boost your metabolism, and in some cases "reduce mucus." Many food combining diets eliminate dairy products,  Negative Health Implications: Inadequate calcium, faulty science, reducing mucus has questionable value  Testimonial “I would eat 7-8 small pieces of fruit, wait 20 minutes or more and have 2 cups of Grape Nuts. “ 19

20. Protein Power Michael Eades, M.D. and Mary Eades, M.D. Premise: Low in fiber, high in fat, claims human body has no physical need for carbohydrates; should be completely avoided. Negative Health Implications: Increased risk for coronary heart disease, high cholesterol, nutrient deficiency. 20

21. Dr. Atkins’ New Diet Revolution Robert Atkins, M.D. Premise: Eliminate sugar and refined carbohydrates from the diet to achieve “Benign Dietary Ketoacidosis,” which will lead to decreased hunger and a “metabolic advantage.” Negative Health Implications: Research has shown that diets high in saturated fats, such as this, are detrimental to health and more likely to cause obesity. Ketosis is often accompanied by nausea, headaches, bad breath and fatigue. High-protein diets may exacerbate kidney disease and gout. High meat intake can increase risk of certain cancers. 21

22. Eat More, Weigh Less Dean Ornish, M.D.  Premise: Calories from fat cause one to become fat; however, the author does concede that calories consumed above maintenance levels contribute to weight gain. The average amount of calories ranges between 1,200 and 1,350 calories a day.  Negative Health Implications: Very difficult to follow, compounding feelings of helplessness and failure. Fat intake may be too low…theoretical risk related to deficiency of fat and essential fatty acids. 22

23. Herbal Magic (et al)  Premise: Special herbal supplements along with diet and exercise will help with weight loss  Negative health implications: Little evidence regarding the safety or efficacy of supplements (e.g. ephedra). Costly. 23

24. A Quick Comparison Atkins Protein Power Sugar Busters The Zone ADA High Fiber Pritikin Ornish Which would you choose???? Anderson, J., Konz, E & Jenkins, D., 2000 24

25. 25

26. Focus: Low Carb. Diets Katz, D.L., 2005 What’s the big deal???? 26

27. Fad Diets: The Reality Anderson, J., Konz, E & Jenkins, D., 2000 27

28. Starting Weight 5% Weight Loss 10% Weight Loss KgLbKgLbKgLb 681503.47.56.815 731603.687.216 7717048.5817 8218049818 861904.69.59.219 90.92004.510920 113.62505.712.511.425 28

29. Resources and Tools  Websites: AMA http://www.ama- assn.org/ama/pub/category/10931.html Ohio State Medical School http://devweb3.vip.ohio-state.edu/patedu.htm National Obesity Initiative http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/guidelines/obesity/practgde.ht m http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/guidelines/obesity/practgde.ht m Dietitians of Canada www.dietitians.ca 2006 Canadian Clinical Practice Guidelines on the management and prevention of obesity in adults and children. Canadian Medical Association Journal;176(8), online. 29

30. Resources and Tools  Subscribe to Nutrition Action Newsletter http://www.cspinet.org/canada/index.html  Scientific review of popular diets http://www.obesityresearch.org/cgi/reprint/9/suppl_1 /33S.pdf http://www.obesityresearch.org/cgi/reprint/9/suppl_1 /33S.pdf  Low Carb Diets “Critique” http://www.atkinsexposed.org/atkins/1/Atkins.htm  The Zone Diet Phenomenon: A Closer Look at the Science behind the Claims Cheuvront, S. (2003). Journal of the American College of Nutrition; 22(1); 9-17 30