The Risks, Benefits and Media Portrayal of Fad Dieting

COMM 10003 Learning and Communicating Online Swinburne University 2014

Assessment 2A- Online Informational Resource

Wiki Group 2

Tamara de Michiel (ID 7649371) Lauren Jeffery (ID 7681267)

Michelle Halliday (ID 9866566) Charmian Pires (ID 7649460)

Dimity Coleman

Fad Diets

The notion of dieting is associated with both psychological and physiological benefits with the dieter recognising a need to make behavioural and lifestyle changes in order to feel, look or live better. With obesity caused heart disease and diabetes becoming more prevalent among society it has become common practice for individuals to turn to quick fix diets in an attempt to cultivate a healthier lifestyle and reduce the risk of such diseases.

Google

When researching online it is much more straightforward to find sources linking the benefits and successes of fad dieting with a Google search of “how to lose weight” generating over 400 million hits compared to its counterpart, “risks of diets” only populating just over 11 million.

Figure 1- Zelman (2008)

Celebrity Endorsement

An online search on WebMD, a fully accredited and Health on the Net Foundation (HONcode) certified website (Fad Diets Directory, n.d.), lists almost 100 different types of fad diets in their directory with links not only to medically endorsed diets such as Aitken’s but celebrity endorsed diets such as “Dr Phil’s Ultimate Weight Loss Solution”. This indicates that individuals in today’s society are happy to follow a diet that may not be endorsed or proven by credible resources.

Figure 2- Britney (2011)

No Magic Solution

Many websites fail to cite risks associated with fad dieting choosing to focus solely on perceived benefits however upon researching; there is an array of both credible and non-credible resources available online. The Better Heath website (State Government of Victoria, 2011) is government endorsed and has suggested that fad diets can harm your health with the Academy of Nutrition (Eat Right, 2014) advising that there is no product, pill or food that can magically burn fat.

Figure 3- Kamiya (2009)

Risks of Fad Dieting

Both of these websites provided no medical references however a fact sheet published by the Kentucky University College of Agriculture (Bastin, 2004) found that fad diets often put people at risk of varying types of conditions by suggesting people go without certain food groups for extended periods of time. According to Sandra Bastin (2004), these may include reduced lean body tissue, fluids, minerals, and vitamin supplies. She outlines possible side effects can include but are not limited to anaemia, kidney stones, gout and emotional disturbances.

Figure 4- Watt (2014)

Risks of Fad Dieting

This theory was reinforced in an article by Eisenstein, Roberts, Dallal & Saltzman (2012) focusing on high protein diets and weight loss. It indicated that such diets promote two to three times the U.S. daily recommended intake of protein which can result in urinary calcium and bone loss advising that those with kidney disease and diabetes should avoid these types of diets; a fact often excluded from non-credible resources promoting these diets as successful.

Risks of Fad Dieting

In an article for WebMD (Jeanie Davis, 2011), a nutritionist and national spokeswoman for the American Dietetic Association, Tara Gidus, concluded that fad diets increase cholesterol and blood pressure levels, which puts diabetes sufferers at further risk of complications.

Figure 5- Cope With Diabetes (2013)

Risks of Fad Dieting

The majority of fad diets promote weight loss however more often than not, only offer a temporary solution. In what can often be a lifelong challenge, when a diet is stopped, the participants re-gain the weight that they have lost and fail to learn the basic principles of nutrition and maintaining a balance between the consumption of “good” and “bad” foods, adequate sleep and sufficient exercise.

Fad Dieting & the Media

The media often plays a pivotal role in influencing men and women wanting to start a specific fad diet and celebrity endorsement plays a huge factor in the decision-making process rather than actual results.

Celebrities including as Jessica Simpson and Jennifer Hudson have both endorsed Weight Watchers (Clements, 2012) by sharing their success stories with the public claiming that it is a fantastic lifestyle choice and that every week they lose weight and feel better. Weight Watchers is a mainstream weight loss program that focuses on eating all the foods you love whilst still losing weight. Figure 6- Weight Watchers (2014)

Benefits of Fad Dieting

A study conducted by Robyn Osborn and Scott Kahan (2013) indicated that that the Weight Watchers program led to, on average, a successful 10% loss in body weight for participants. A summary of studies into the effects of weight loss on Healthy Weight for Life (Healthy Weight for Life, n.d .) have noted that just a 10% weight loss can result in avoiding type 2 diabetes; improved sleep; reduced joint pain and even improved fertility (REFERENCE HERE).

Figure 7- Google (2014)

Benefits of Fad Dieting

Other medical studies into diets that could be considered fads have found scientifically proven benefits. The Paleo diet which insists that we fuel our bodies with foods consumed by our prehistoric ancestors, suggests that by consuming unprocessed meats and vegetables we can minimise the aging processes at a cellular level by benefiting from many antioxidants that inhibit carcinoma development (Akers & Martin, 2013).

Figure 8- Johnson (2014)

Benefits of Fad Dieiting

Other clear indications are the benefits linked with eliminating refined carbohydrates as suggested by the diet craze “I Quit Sugar”. Refined carbohydrates slow metabolic processes which lead to weight gain, lethargy and increased risk of cardiovascular disease through vessel wall break down (Adan, la Fleur, Kalsbeek, Luijendijk, & van Rozen, 2010) so by eliminating these from the diet as suggested, an individual can sustain long term weight loss and improved well-being.

Fad Dieting

With the quantity of quick fix diets on the rise it is imperative that an individual evaluates all risks and benefits associated with any proposed diet or lifestyle choice. The concept of dieting is always growing and changing and whilst not all sources have authorship and official accreditation, they are functional sites for listing the fundamentals associated with the concept of dieting. More often than not, the media present fad diets in a solely beneficial light neglecting to inform followers of potential risks and long-term challenges associated with fad diets so it is vital for participants to fully research, assess and determine if a diet is suitable for their individual needs.

Fad Dieting

Whilst eliminating certain things from a diet can be beneficial for health and wellbeing (Adan, la Fleur, Kalsbeek, Luijendijk, & van Rozen, 2010) there is a high risk that eliminating others can lead to malnutrition and have a detrimental effect on the body (Bastin, 2004) Whilst being overweight comes with its own list of associated risks, more often than not these can be exasperated by choosing to follow a fad diet that has not been scientifically proven.

References

Adan, RAH., la Fleur, S.E., Kalsbeek, A., Luijendijk, M.C.M., & van Rozen, A.J. (2010). A free-choice high-fat high-sugar diet induces glucose intolerance and insulin unresponsiveness to a glucose load not explained by obesity. International Journal of Obesity. 1-10.

Aker, J. & Martin, C.A. (2013). Paleo Diet versus Modified Paleo Diet: A Randomized Control Trial of Weight Loss and Biochemical Benefit. Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. 113 (9): Supplement p. A35-

Bastin, L (2004). Fad Diets. Retrieved May 1st 2014 from http://www2.ca.uky.edu/hes/fcs/factshts/fn-ssb.119.pdf

(Figure 2) Britney, F (2011) Celebrity Diets: The Worst of the Worst. Retrieved April 28th 2014 via http://goo.gl/7k113h

Clements, E. (2012). Celebrities Weight Loss Plans: Stars Who’ve Endorsed Fad Diets. Retrieved April 27th from http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/11/14/celebrities-weight-loss-plans-endorsed-diets_n_2124932.html

References

(Figure 5) Cope With Diabetes (2013). Diabetes Complications. Retrived May 2nd 2014 via http://goo.gl/jtBCYj

Davis, J (2011). Diabetes and the risks of fad diets. Retrieved April 22nd from http://www.webmd.com/diabetes/features/diabetes-risk-fad-diets

Eat Right Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (2014) It’s About Eating Right. Retrieved April 15th from http://www.eatright.org/Public/content.aspx?id=68511-

Eisenstein, J., Roberts, S. B., Dallal, G., & Saltzman, E. (2002). High-protein Weight-loss Diets: Are They Safe and Do They Work? A Review of the Experimental and Epidemiologic Data. Nutrition Reviews, 60(7), 189-200.

(Figure 7) Google (2014). Image retrieved April 15th 2014 via http://goo.gl/Kbhuv0Figure

Healthy Weight for Life (n.d.) Medical Benefits of a Healthy Weight. Retrieved April 9th 2014 from http://www.healthyweightforlife.com.au/medical-benefits.php

References

(Figure 8) Johnson, K.M. (2008) Controlling cravings while on the Paleo Diet. Retrieved April 30th 2014 via http://goo.gl/S1D0wC

Kahan, (INITIAL?) & Osborn, R. (2013). Weight loss was greater with Weight Watchers than with a behavioural program plus Weight Watchers. Annals of internal medicine. 159(10), pp JC5.

(figure 3) Kamiya, N. (2009) Fad diets don’t work- so what does? Retrieved May 1st 2014 via http://goo.gl/ub3qoe

State Government of Victoria (2011) Weight Loss and Fad Diets. Retrieved April 16th 2014 from http://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/bhcv2/bhcarticles.nsf/pages/Weight_loss_and_fad_diets

(Figure 4) Watt, S. (2014) Eat for Health- The weight loss and new body will just be an added benefit. Retrived May 7th from http://goo.gl/De2IT9

References

WebMD (n.d.) Fad Diets Directory. Retrieved April 20th, 2014 from http://www.webmd.com/diet/fad-diets-directory?catid=1006&page=1&sortorder=title

(Figure 6) Weight Watchers (2014) Jessica Simpson’s Story. Retrieved May 10th 2014 via http://goo.gl/RdfAAh

(Figure 1) Zelman, K.M (2008) Lose Weight Fast: How to do it safely. Retrieved May 6th 2014 from http://goo.gl/C46eFB

Bibliography

WikiAnswers (2014) Mass Media and Dieting. Retrieved April 3rd 2014 via http://wiki.answers.com/Q/Mass_media_and_dieting&isLookUp=1#Q=mass%20media%20and%20dieting

Wikipedia (2014) Lifestyle trends and Media. Retrieved April 17th 2014 via from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lifestyle_trends_and_media