When searching for weight loss plans and programs online, dieting is usually found at the top of the to-do list. It makes sense when you think about it: eating means gaining calories; therefore, not eating should help cut down the calories and help with weight loss. For diet plans specifically, due to there being so many of them, it may be hard for those looking to achieve significant weight loss to know which diets will bring better results. These are two competing factions when it comes to dieting in our culture. Fad diet plans remain prevalent in society; their adoption, adherence, and termination tied with social influence from interpersonal behaviors. On the other hand, there are personalized diet plans, which go against the one-size-fits-all approach to weight loss. In this post, we’ll go through the differences between the fad and personalized dieting, and which one can bring you closer to your weight loss goals in a healthy manner:
Fad diets
Like fashion, a fad diet is a diet that becomes popular for short periods of time. In an era dominated by social media and celebrity endorsements, fad diets become popular based on how viral they become. Mostly, these fad diets attract people by promising instant or short-term results in their weight loss journey. They also often grab public attention by promoting outrageous or novel ways to reduce calorie intake, resulting in highly restrictive diets that may be dangerous for health. As an extreme example, take the recently viral raw meat diet, which continue to be promoted, despite countless warnings from CDC on the threats it poses, including food poisoning, salmonella, and E. coli among others. While it may sound like otherworldly diet advice, some people swear by the raw meat diet, claiming mental and physical benefits.
Due to the amount of fad diets going viral, navigating the ocean of search results for diet plans can be confusing, if not risky. As a tip, it’s always best to do your own research on the nutritional intake and possible health risks that a fad diet may pose. Additionally, tight dietary restrictions are also a difficult lifestyle change, and may deprive your body of important nutrients that you need for energy to function, especially as a strong immune system is essential for post-pandemic life. Aside from thinking of skipping meals or reducing food intake, for example, you can refocus by eating smarter, like consuming fiber to cleans toxins from your body.
Personalized diet plans
On the other end of the diet spectrum, personalized diet plans are rising in popularity because of the focus on individuality and personalization. Since everyone lives under different conditions such as budget constraints and medical concerns, personalized diet plans take your body and lifestyle into account to create a weight loss plan that can work for you — without restricting you from necessary nutrients. Following a weight loss plan effectively involves looking at your water consumption, sleeping habits, and activity levels, as well as your height and weight, to determine a holistic approach to nutrition. Personalized diet plans also stay away from the strict cutting down of specific food items, embracing the idea that losing weight doesn’t have to mean giving up your favorite foods.
Another crucial point of personalized diet plans is that your weight loss journey doesn’t rely on just your eating habits. In fact, a good weight loss plan should be a combination of healthier (and smarter!) eating habits, quality sleep, as well as regular exercise routines.
Ultimately, while weight loss and maintenance can help regulate our bodies and prevent diseases, it’s important that we don’t lose our way and end up picking up drastic lifestyle changes and unhealthy eating habits that can be damaging down the line.
