Crazy stats on the dangers of fad diets

Whenever people say that they’re having a “change of lifestyle,” they invariably mean that they plan to change their diet. Sometimes, they make sustainable changes, such as eating more fruits and vegetables, but more often, they choose a gimmicky diet, hoping that it’ll fast-track their results.

The exciting thing about a lot of fad diets is that they appear to work – at least initially. People on keto or low-carb often find that they shed several pounds in the first few weeks, convincing them that they’re on the right plan. Unfortunately, the long-term outcomes are nowhere near as good.

The main problem is the quality of the food itself. Practically all human nutrition comes from plant foods: they contain the minerals, nutrients, and phytochemicals that keep us healthy and full of life. A diet of meat, fat, and supplements, on the other hand, might damage the body. Evidence suggests that people who embark on these eating plans see significant deterioration in biomarkers that track their health.

The other issue is psychological: sticking to such restrictive eating practices is almost impossible – yet this is a hallmark of the most successful fad diets of the present era.

Fortunately, the following infographic provides more details on fad diets that help you discover what foods you should be eating. It points out the many dangers of following unproven diets and shows you what to eat instead. It also shows you how restricting food can undermine your efforts to get healthy in the long term, such as binge eating.

Infographic by USC