Popular Diets in Contemporary Society, Creative Writing

The table below represents the major diets over the past few decades that have some medical and longitudinal veracity (e.g. they are not fad diets, e.g. "grapefruit diet"). Of course, each new issue of a woman's magazine purports to have the right answer with the right diet, which only shows America's obsession with losing weight and bears the question -- if these new diets worked so well, why would we need new ones?

Table 1 -- Overview of Major Diet Programs

Premise

Basic Tenet

Strengths

Weaknesses

Misc.

Adkins

Strict Carb restriction

Phases that eliminate most carbs

Effective when followed

Lack of carbs not healthy in long-term dieting; uses fats (butter, etc.) not great for heart health.

Men tend to lose faster than women; fairly strict during initial phases.

HGC

Combination caloric restriction and hormone supplement

Resets body systems

Clinically proven

Requires Rx; numerous knock offs that are fraudulent

Still controversial; 500 calorie diet dangerous if not monitored appropriately.

Jenny Craig

Caloric restriction

Lifestyle and "how to eat planning"

Effective, addresses holistic person

Very expensive, must belong to their program

One on one counseling -- very effective for some but must be prepared for large investment

NutriSystem

Caloric restriction

Tries to balance diet

Balanced, small portions; reasonable premise

Encourages using their products and participating in their seminars.

Price varies; food (less fresh) may be delivered through mail.

Ornish

Caloric restriction

Focuses on whole grains and vegetables - no meat

Effective and has been subjected to clinical trials; excellent for heart health

Strict, menus lack variety

Need only book; might be more lifestyle change

Slim-Fast

Caloric restriction

Meal replacement with their Shake product

Does provide proper levels of RDA nutrients

No control over non-replaced meal; must use their product; high cost, high drop-out rate

Can certainly work depending on commitment by individual More short-term solution

South Beach

Carb restriction

Modified Atkins; differentiates types of carbs

Wide variety of foods available; well balanced

Does not address exercise of lifestyle changes

Proper selection of foods helps stabilize blood sugar

Weight Watchers

Caloric restriction

Appropriate balance of carbs, proteins, etc.

Balanced, supplements with vegetables, fruits; reasonable premise

Encourages using their products and participating in their seminars -- belonging to a group.$20 to join, weekly dues; sells foods; point system still controversial; costs add up.

(Sources:"Weight Loss Programs," 2010; dietsinreview.om; revolutionhealth.com).

REFERENCES

Fumento, Michael, (1998), The Fat of The Land: The Obesity Epidemic and How Overweight Americans Can Help Themselves, Penguin.

Hellmich, Nanci, (10/3/05), "Percentage of Overweight Americans Stable," USA

Today, cited in: http://www.usatoday.com/news/health/2005-10-03-weight-trends_x.htm

"Strong Evidence Links Soft Drink Consumption To Obesity, Diabetes," Medical

News Today, cited in: http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/64824.php.

"The Nutrition Source," Harvard School of Public Health, cited in:

http://www.hsph.harvard.edu/nutritionsource/what-should-you-eat/fats-full-story/index.html

Robbins, John, (1998), Diet for a New America, HJ Kramer.

Valentine, Judith, (5/26/02), "Soft Drinks: America's Other Drinking Problem," The

Weston Price Foundation, cited in:

http://www.westonaprice.org/modernfood/soft.html.

"Weight Loss Programs," (2010). Consumer Search. Cited in:

http://www.consumersearch.com/weight-loss-programs.....