ACS and Dieting - Do Diets Really Work?
Let’s face it, there are many diets out there today that promote things such as weight loss, disease prevention or cures, sports improvement etc, but not all of these diets are healthy or safe. Navigating through the ever changing fad diets can be challenging, not only for healthcare professionals, but for our patients as well. Furthermore, there is no evidence of any long term sustainability of dieting. People often end up with a yo-yo effect of weight loss, weight regain, and then dieting again.
Fad diets can be harmful if they:
Say you need to cut out many healthy foods or whole food groups
Put people in a cycle of weight loss and weight gain
Suggest you eat too few calories to fuel your daily activities
Make you become so focused on food that it begins to:
Control your life
Prevent you from enjoying daily activities
Other considerations:
False hope - fad diets make promises they can’t keep by offering “too good to be true” results
Feeling of failure - people feel a sense of guilt and are set up for failure
Money - many products are expensive
Avoiding real change
Ways to spot a fad diet:
Promises quick weight loss
Flaunts famous names
Limits or cuts out whole food groups
Uses testimony instead of science
Endorses no exercise involved
Sells something (like food or pills)
Claims to have “secret ingredients”
Tells you to disbelieve doctors
Tips for adopting healthy dietary patterns:
Don’t overthink it - look at an optional balance of healthy fats, proteins and carbs
Choose food that fits into your budget, preferences, and culture
Prepare meals at home - eat out/order in less
Sit down and eat with family or friends
Be mindful of your eating- turn off the TV/screens and take the time to enjoy and “taste” your food
Don’t make certain foods “illegal” or “forbidden”
Fuel your body with fibre and protein
It’s ok to enjoy treats once in a while!
Need help/have questions about healthy eating and dietary patterns? A dietitian can help. For more information visit:
https://food-guide.canada.ca/en/tips-for-healthy-eating/diets-food-trends/
https://www.nutrition.gov/topics/healthy-living-and-weight/what-you-should-know-about-popular-diets
https://dietitiansaustralia.org.au/health-advice/fad-diets
Submitted by: Tiffany Augustine; MSc, RD, CDE, Education/Research Dietitian; Certified Diabetes Educator, St. Boniface General Hospital
