Dissecting fad diets

For generations, teenagers have fallen into the trap of fad dieting—from cigarettes to no-fat to keto. The way diets evolve raises questions as to who decides what is “healthy,” and how these ever-changing “needs” affect those trying the diets. With advertisements masked by glamorous social media posts, dieting companies encourage a specific diet for the petite or muscular body portrayed. However, not all diets will work for everybody.

According to Harvard Health, the keto diet, consisting of minimal-carbs and an abundance of high-fat foods, is a legit medical diet. However, its intentions are generally to reduce epileptic seizures in children. Depriving your body of carbohydrates—sugars that are broken down for energy—forces it to burn fat through ketosis. 

Ketosis, however, is difficult to force your body into, and there are many risks to this diet.

Heart disease from the overconsumption of fats and nutrition deficiency raises many concerns. Our bodies have adapted to use four main types of organic (carbon-containing) compounds: carbohydrates, proteins, nucleic acids, and lipids (fats). The overconsumption of saturated fats, and little intake of the other compounds, leaves the body deprived of vital nutrients like vitamins and minerals, consumed primarily through fruits and vegetables.

Not only this, but keto dieting also poses the threat of kidney and liver damage. According to Harvard Health, keto’s promise of long-term weight loss has no scientific proof behind it.

Amelia Hines, 11, tried keto for 90 days. Unfortunately, her body never made the switch to ketosis. As a hockey player, this damaged her game.

“There was one time I was in the middle of a game and I almost passed out because I didn’t have the energy to keep playing,” Amelia said, “I was eating enough calories but my body wasn’t using them like it would’ve carbs.”

Amelia isn’t the only SJHS student that’s tried an intensive diet.

Sam Simpson, 12, began his version of the Atkins diet after doing research on the benefits of cutting out carbs. Opposite of keto, his diet consisted of meats and high-energy fruits and vegetables for about a month and a half.

“I was trying to cut my body fat percentage, but I didn’t get results and was unhappy with how I was feeling—always feeling hungry—so I stopped,” Sam Simpson, 12, said.

Unfortunately, like many who’ve tried fad diets, Sam realized that the potential upsides to the diet didn’t outweigh the repercussions. 

“I think everyone creates a theory, and everyone thinks they’re right, so people get confused by the overwhelming statistics,” Sam said, “All these people saying they know how to do it and the best way to do it when really it’s all personalized because everyone is different.”

In some cases, diets like these do work. In just a few weeks, weight loss can be significant. However, it is important to consider what happens once one reaches their goal. 

“You have to do your homework: what is involved? Is it right for me? Is this approach—whether it be a fitness program or a diet—sustainable? Is it realistic long term?” Mrs. Neddie Garcia, a nutritionist at the Renaissance Athletic Club, suggested students do when considering a diet plan. 

So, what happens when these diets come to their conclusion—whether it’s the end of a challenge or you perhaps you can no longer sustain the habit? Fad dieters tend to yo-yo diet, a dangerous and common cycle of gaining back the weight that was lost in the process after returning to a normal diet, causing one to restart a new diet that may fix this new weight gain.

This dieting trap benefits weight loss companies. They are able to come up with diet after diet that leads their consumers to believe “this is the one!” Fixing vulnerable consumers on an unhealthy habit, these companies can keep people hooked on their products.

In 2014, four big weight-loss companies faced large lawsuits for false advertising. Promising misleading results, these companies received punishment for their consumer manipulation. According to Edward Wyatt in his 2014 New York Times article, “The four companies—Sensa Products, L’Occitane, HCG Diet Direct, and LeanSpa—will collectively pay $34 million to refund consumers.”

Despite this, companies continue to advertise their products without proper warnings or guidance to healthy procedures. With social media like Tik Tok and Instagram, influencers are paid to show off their bodies after using a specific diet. However, with celebrities’ access to health coaches and readily available editing software, these advertisements can be incredibly misleading. 

Mrs. Garcia shared what might be the best plan for students trying to change their weight.

“The focus should be less on the diet and the scale and more on the exercise through fitness and not the weight loss,” she said. She emphasized the importance of moderation, rather than reduction. 

“I think a lot of trouble can happen when there is the label ‘this food is bad.’ In my opinion, there are nutrient-dense, and then there are foods that are not as nutrient-dense,” she said. Instead of trying to cut out an entire food group, she suggests practicing self-control in both areas of nutrient-rich and nutrient-poor foods. Fad dieting doesn’t fix the initial problem for the weight gain or whatever issue is brought to attention. It’s important to identify the mental aspect of the issue and begin to address it at the root rather than attempting to put a bandaid over it with an unsustainable diet.

It’s important that healthy eating habits start at home because those habits will then carry over into life outside the house. Practicing moderation and coupling a healthy diet with physical movement can be more beneficial than a fad diet.