Now that June has hit, so has diet season.
Have you started the latest diet fad to fit into that itsy bitsy bikini?
The Cure for Everything!: Untangling the Twisted Messages About Health, Fitness and Happiness author Timothy Caulfield exposes the scientific evidence behind maintaining weight loss, stating that diet fads don’t work.
Want a killer beach body? If you rely on healthcare practitioners — both mainstream and alternative — for a ‘quick fix’ to your weight issues, then beware! Both Big Pharma and naturopathy are powerful twisting forces with products and services to sell, Caulfield warns.
It seems like everyone has an an easy equation — even the celebs! Academy Award-winning actress Gwyneth Paltrow is currently promoting her new cookbook, It’s All Good, which offers low-carb, gluten-free recipes.
In fact, a recent survey found that going gluten-free is now Canada’s most popular diet. People often assume there is scientific evidence connecting weight loss and gluten. And, no surprise, the market has jumped on the trend, offering a wide variety of G-Free products.
But there is no scientific evidence to support the idea that the consumption of wheat is the cause of the current obesity problem.
The proof is in the pudding: an article in The New England Journal of Medicine reviewed all the relevant research, and found that after two to four years, most dieters put the weight back on.
So why do fad diets work, but then fail?
Science says that a new diet – whether it is focused on wheat or a variety of other ’quick fix’ fads – makes us think about what we are putting in our mouths, and often brings a new lifestyle change. In turn, this leads to short-term weight loss, thus making it appear like the latest ‘miracle’ cure.
But over time — and almost inevitably — diets fail and our bodies want us to keep the pounds on.
With scientific research behind him, Caulfield says that a successful diet requires healthy lifestyle changes that can be sustained forever. Forever!
Without mention of regular exercise, Caulfield suggests the following diet for long-term, weight-loss:
- Aim for a simple, evidence-based diet that you can integrate into the way you really live;
- Avoid junk food;
- Keep a diet diary;
- Watch portion sizes;
- Know how many calories you need;
- Eat real, nutritious food (aim for 50 per cent fruits and vegetables);
- Be realistic;
- Be patient.
What do you think of Caulfield’s diet suggestions to maintaining weight loss? What works for you?
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