Recent research by a Dietetic Association found that a third of dieters ended up heavier than their original weight only a few weeks after dieting. Now, does that sound familiar to you?
Todays fad diets are the kind of regimens where you eat a very restrictive or unusual combination of foods for a short period of time, lose weight, possibly lose a little of your initial interest and then pile the pounds back on.
To give you the low-down, realbuzz.com has put the most popular diet approaches to the test - the pros, cons and each has been rated on how they satisfy hunger, their ease to follow, expense and most importantly - the impact they can have on your overall health.
1. Slimming World
Overall verdict
A good eating plan if the green days are chosen more frequently than the Original days. It is a low fat eating plan that will help weight loss because it helps you to drastically cut the number of calories you eat.
Pros and cons explained
Pros
Support from a consultant leading the class and the group.
A structured plan that can help you stick to a low fat diet.
A maintenance programe is provided.
Cons
You have to feel ready to lose weight, despite the detailed plan; Slimming World cannot make you lose weight.
There could be a tendency for some people to choose more Original days than Green days; this may lead to an unbalanced intake of nutrients, for example: too much protein and not enough carbohydrate.
2. The Atkins Diet
Overall verdict
The liberal use of fat really is a health hazard; the overall recommendations that are made in this diet are completely different from the recommendations made by registered dietitians for healthy weight loss and a healthy lifestyle.
There is published evidence to show that most people do lose weight on low-carbohydrate diets such as the Atkins plan, and that weight lost will help blood pressure, blood glucose and cholesterol levels of individuals. The snag is that weight lost by any means (not just on the Atkins plan) will improve all of the health measures mentioned before. As the diet is not nutritionally adequate, supplements of vitamins and minerals are needed. There is little evidence to know what effect the Atkins plan has on health in the long-term.
Pros and cons explained
Pros
Reduces the number of calories consumed and therefore promotes weight loss
Cons
Long term effects unknown
Nutritionally unbalanced
Not suitable for pregnant women or people with kidney disease or gout
High saturated (health harming) fat intake
Expensive
Can cause constipation
Long term maintenance of weight lost would be hard due to the restrictive nature of the plan
3. The GI diet
Overall verdict
Any supplement making a claim that it can help weight loss must be accompanied by a calorie deficient diet, i.e. either you reduce the number of calories you eat or you increase the number of calories you use by exercising more. There are no magic ways to lose weight unfortunately, and many people mistakenly believe many of the unfounded claims that supplements make.
Cons
You should not take supplements if you are pregnant or breast feeding, always read the label and ask your GP if in doubt.
Many supplements make unfounded claims that are not true, always be sceptical about any claim made.
They must always be taken with a calorie controlled diet and physical activity - maybe just the diet and physical activity would be a good place to start.
They can be really expensive, a better idea would be to look at the food you eat and spend more on the ‘healthy’ foods such as fruit and vegetables and starchy foods.
4. Meal replacements
Overall verdict
Meal replacements are no substitute for a healthy eating plan. However, studies show that proper use of meal replacements can provide a nutritionally balanced diet. They work for some people, as they are easy to incorporate into daily life.
Pros
An easy way to reduce weight without having to plan and think about meals
The products are fortified with many different nutrients and their composition is governed by European Union legislation
Cons
There is no support for people taking meal replacements
There is no education on how to change eating habits in the long term
You may grow bored with the range on offer
5. Detox diets
Overall verdict
Detox diets generally rely on the fact that they are very low in calories. Whole food groups are often cut out which obviously leads to imbalance. These diets are very restrictive. There are better ways of achieving long-term success at weight loss that are more nutritionally balanced and easier to follow.
Pros
Rapid weight loss
May help to increase the amount of fruit and vegetables in the diet
Cons
Wind may be a problem as detox diets often recommend very high fibre foods
There is not any advice of how to change eating habits for the long term
Rigid structure means it is hard to fit in with everyday living
Only a short term, quick fix
6. Food combining
Overall verdict
There is no scientific evidence to prove that we need to separate the foods that we eat. The fact that food combining discourages high-fat and sugary foods probably lowers the overall calorie content of the diet; this will encourage weight loss.
Pros
Encourages the consumption of more fruit and vegetables
Cons
Some plans restrict red meat and dairy foods so it is important to ensure a balanced diet to allow for these food groups being missed out
Can be difficult when you are eating out as many food combining plans encourage cooking from scratch
Little advice around increasing physical activity and making permanent changes to eating habits
7. Weight Watchers
Overall verdict
The support that is provided for people attending Weight Watchers is a key to the success of this programme. Also regular recording (writing down) what you eat has been proven to be the way that many people succeed at losing weight and keeping it off; this is encouraged at Weight Watchers.
The nature of the classes means that you will be with people who have similar issues.
Pros
It encourages changes to be made for the long term
It is a supportive, group led environment
It encourages slow, sensible weight loss
Cons
It is a prescriptive diet that some may not be able to stick to forever
Counting points may become an obsession and the relative health merits of certain foods may be overlooked
8. Low fat
Overall verdict
A low fat diet is a very good start towards eating healthily and losing weight. Balance must be kept in mind though, as many foods that are low in fat are either high in salt (savoury foods) or high in sugar (sweet/dessert foods). All food contains calories and this must be remembered even when eating low fat foods.
Pros
Cutting back on fat can help reduce the number of calories you eat and therefore help weight loss.
Consumption of fruit and vegetables is encouraged as both are low in fat.
Cons
High sugar foods may be eaten to excess on a low fat diet as sweets are low in fat, this can be detrimental to the health of the teeth.
Be aware that it is important to read labels on foods, just because a food is low in fat does not necessarily mean that it is low in calories.
9. Supplements
Overall verdict
Any supplement making a claim that it can help weight loss must be accompanied by a calorie deficient diet, i.e. either you reduce the number of calories you eat or you increase the number of calories you use by exercising more. There are no magic ways to lose weight unfortunately, and many people mistakenly believe many of the unfounded claims that supplements make.
Cons
You should not take supplements if you are pregnant or breast feeding, always read the label and ask your GP if in doubt.
Many supplements make unfounded claims that are not true, always be sceptical about any claim made.
They must always be taken with a calorie controlled diet and physical activity - maybe just the diet and physical activity would be a good place to start.
They can be really expensive, a better idea would be to look at the food you eat and spend more on the ‘healthy’ foods such as fruit and vegetables and starchy foods.
10. Rosemary Conley’s Hip and Thigh diet
Overall verdict
A great way to re-educate your taste buds! Getting into the habit of eating a low fat diet may take a while but you are unlikely to be hungry and if it means increasing the amount of the ‘healthy foods’ in your diet then it must be good news. Adhering to this plan may not be possible in the long term as it is too restrictive on fat intake - it may also be too low in fat to provide the wide range of vitamins required by the body.
Pros
A filling diet, you are unlikely to be hungry on this plan
Encourages eating regularly
Encourages taking regular activity to help weight loss
Cons
May actually be too low in fat, if followed strictly
You may over eat sugar, this is common when sticking to a low fat diet.