Avoid these fad diets if you’re looking to lose weight – here’s what experts say you should do instead

Have you ever come across a diet that promises rapid, short-term weight loss? Most likely, it’s a fad diet that you should avoid.

Losing weight doesn’t happen overnight, and if a product or diet is promising it will, it’ll probably end up doing more harm than good.

Sometimes it can be hard to tell if you are in the face of a fad diet or not. Most commonly, a fad diet will promote rapid weight loss, be short-term, exclude certain food groups, have no scientific backing, restrict the number of calories you can consume, and come with a strict set of rules.

HCG diet

The HCG diet is widely considered to be an extremely unhealthy approach to weight loss. It was created in the 1950s when British physician Albert Simeons started to promote the diet for weight loss.

It mainly comes with two requirements. The first is that you can only eat 500 calories each day. The second component to this diet is the human chorionic gonadotropin supplement taken daily. This medication is mainly used to treat fertility issues, according to Mayo Clinic.

The Food and Drug Administration does not classify HCG supplements as safe for weight loss. Medical News Today reports that HCG supplements can cause mood changes, fluid buildup in bodily tissues, enlarged breasts in males, and blood clots.

A low-calorie diet also comes with a slew of side effects like malnutrition, low mood, an irregular heartbeat and gallstones, according to the source.

Cabbage soup diet

As the name implies, the diet mainly consists of cabbage soup. This diet consists of eating cabbage soup for seven days with one to two other low-calorie foods daily.

This diet is, for one, not sustainable, but it also lacks nutrients from major food groups. Since it’s such a short-term diet, there probably won’t be any significant weight loss in the time period. This diet lacks many nutrients vital to overall health. Its restrictive nature, and the short time in which it’s followed, cause people to regain the weight they lost once the week is up.

Baby food diet

While baby food has enough nutrients for babies, it is not a suitable option for adults looking to lose weight. The baby food diet involves replacing one or two meals a day with jars of baby food, and then eating a regular dinner.

This diet is not sustainable for adults and can lead to nutritional deficiencies. It also promotes an unhealthy relationship with food and can result in overeating during regular meals. It lacks essential nutrients and can leave adults feeling hungry and unsatisfied.

Conclusion

When it comes to weight loss, it’s important to focus on sustainable, long-term changes to your diet and lifestyle. Avoiding fad diets and instead opting for a balanced, nutritious diet alongside regular physical activity is the key to successful and healthy weight loss.