Say No to Fad Diets

Samantha Bottoms realizes that a lifestyle change, not dieting, is the way to lose weight and keep it off.

                  “I have been dieting on and off my entire life,” said Samantha Bottoms, accounting sophomore. “It’s not until recently that I have finally come to the conclusion that all of these diets are ‘fad’ diets and may help me lose weight quickly, but won’t help me keep weight off in the long run.”

                  Some of these “fad” diets may even be dangerous to someone’s health.

                  “So many people these days go on drastic crash diets because they want to lose weight quickly, not the hard way”, said Jennifer Ray, Registered Dietitian at the OUHSC. “For example, the HCG diet is a diet where a person takes a supplement and only eats about 500 calories a day. Sure, they might lose weight quickly, but so few calories will have a harmful effect on their body as well.”

                  For Samantha, the only diet that has actually worked for her is the “eating healthfully” diet.

                  “I’ve tried the Slim Fast diet, the grapefruit diet, the no carb diet, and many others.” Bottoms said. “All of these diets only seem to make me really grumpy and then not actually be effective in the long run. I find that the only diet that has truly kept weight off and made me feel better about myself is not even a diet at all. It is merely a lifestyle change. I eat in moderation and try to eat healthier and I don’t seem to have problems with my body anymore”.