First let\u2019s talk about the global $192 billion dollar weight-loss industry that not just survives, but thrives by marketing to Americans and enticing them to \u201ctry the next diet\u201d with no worry as \u201cthis new diet is personalized and different.\u201d<\/p>\n
Need proof that the weight-loss industry doesn\u2019t have your best interests in mind?<\/p>\n
When I was early in my coaching career, the company I was working for was pitching a lifestyle health program to a well-known weight-loss company that you\u2019ve been hearing about for decades.<\/p>\n
The healthy lifestyle program included exercise coaching using heart rate-based training. The weight-loss giant rejected the program because exercise slows hunger and would hurt the packaged-food division of the company that was marketed as a health-building program.<\/p>\n
So, how do fad diets fit into it all?<\/p>\n
Fad diets are defined as diets that are extremely popular for a short period of time and often promise unreasonably quick weight loss or health improvements without much scientific data to back their claims. These diets include the packaged meal industry, meal replacement, as well as plans such as paleo, low-carbohydrate, high-fat, high protein and plant-based diets.<\/p>\n
The problem is that fad diets generally don\u2019t work, and the failure rate of these diets should be a huge red flag for consumers. The industry knows that 90% of people who lose weight will not keep it off long term.<\/p>\n
However, it\u2019s not all doom and gloom. The good news is there are a few fad diets that are supported by science, can be sustainable long term, can produce significant weight loss and, most importantly, can build health. The key is knowing where each of them falls short so you can adjust.<\/p>\n
Over the next few months, we\u2019ll dive into the pros and cons of three of the best fad diets on the market, what\u2019s good about them, what\u2019s bad about them and how to decide whether they make sense for your health and lifestyle.<\/p>\n
Today, let\u2019s start with paleo.<\/p>\n
Yes, it\u2019s considered a fad diet, and it currently has the largest following of any diet on the market. Paleo followers eat like our paleolithic ancestors ate because of the belief that our human body hasn\u2019t evolved enough to digest and absorb the anti-nutrients in legumes, grains and dairy. These foods are believed to lead to modern disease.<\/p>\n
Paleo focuses on eating quality vegetables, seafood, fruits, spices, berries, nuts and seeds, and meat, and drinking plenty of water, while enjoying your daily \u201cbullet-proof\u201d coffee. This diet removes dairy, sugar, grains, alcohol, processed foods and starches. Paleo is classified as a fad diet in the industry as it restricts many whole-food, health-building food groups.<\/p>\n
However, let\u2019s be clear that the paleo diet has improved the food quality of America. Following this diet will teach you all about food quality. Paleo is \u201cclean eating on steroids\u201d with its grass-fed beef, wild-caught salmon and loads of organic vegetables. If you want to clean up your diet to eat cleaner food, paleo could be beneficial. Other benefits are: Paleo has also shown to reduce belly fat; improve how insulin works in your body; reduce blood pressure; reduce blood sugar; and reduce cholesterol while still having substantial weight loss.<\/p>\n
Paleo falls short by eliminating entire food groups such as grains, legumes and dairy. Anytime you eliminate entire food groups, it\u2019s difficult to sustain a diet and maintain health. Being diligent in replacing nutrient deficiency that arises from removing food groups is important. A few vitamins and nutrients that fall deficient while following paleo include calcium, B vitamins and resistant starch.<\/p>\n
Fad diets are not meant to be your lifetime eating plan because they fall short in nutrients and can be extremely difficult to maintain long-term. Stay tuned, as next month we will talk about the second most popular fad diet today \u2013 the Ketogenic Diet, which allows you to eat all the dairy and cheese that you missed out on with paleo.<\/p>\n