NEW YORK, Oct. 1, 2008

Crazy Diets, And Why To Avoid Them

Nutritionist, Author Lisa Drayer Cautions Against Fad Diets In General And Several In Particular

  • Play CBS Video Video Diets That Don't Work

    Nutritionist Lisa Drayer debunks some mythical diets that have been tried over the years but with no scientific basis for success. She speaks to Julie Chen.

    • Lisa Drayer, right, and Julie Chen on <i><b>The Early Show</i></b> Wednesday

      Lisa Drayer, right, and Julie Chen on The Early Show Wednesday  (CBS)

    •  (CBS/McGraw-Hill)

    Previous slide Next slide
  • Interactive Diet And Nutrition

    Are you eating right? See the government's guidelines, calculate your body mass index and quiz yourself on healthy food choices.

  • Quiz Are You Food Savvy?

    Have you consumed myths about diet and nutrition? Take these quizzes to find out.

(CBS) 

FAD 3: The Cabbage Soup Diet

Basis: The Cabbage Soup Diet is basically another fad diet that involves consuming a large amount of cabbage soup -- along with other low-calorie fruits and vegetables, as well as milk and meat -- for seven days.

What it does to the body: The diet isn't very practical: It's basically a list of specific food combinations that you can eat along with the soup.
It is very low in calories, and, as with other fad diets, most of the weight lost is not body fat, but water weight.

Research shows eating a broth-based soup before a meal can help you consume fewer calories during that meal. It's even more beneficial if your soup is high in fiber, as cabbage soup is. So, adding soup to otherwise healthy, balanced meals can help to jumpstart weight loss.

Cons: Only water weight dropped; can cause weakness, irritability.

FAD 4: The Weight Loss Cure

Despite being disproven by the Food and Drug Administration, this one remains very expensive, and immensely popular.

Basis: In essence, The Weight Loss Cure is based on the theory that injections of human chorionic gonadotrophin (HCG) -- a hormone found in the urine of pregnant women -- enables dieters to comfortably consume only 500 calories a day. The diet claims you can lose at least 30 pounds in 30 days with no hunger, no exercise, and no surgery -- and is said to successfully correct food cravings and low-metabolism.

What it does to the body: Backers claim HCG mobilizes stored fat, suppresses appetite, and redistributes fat from the waist, hips, and thighs. However, there is no scientific evidence to support the claims. Also, consuming only 500 calories per day is basically a semi-starvation diet and can cause loss of muscle, including muscle from organs, including the heart.

There really is no truth here: This medical "breakthrough" has been debunked and discredited by the American Medical Association and the FDA.

Cons: Expensive; NO scientific evidence; hard to find

Copyright MMVIII, CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Share:
  • Share
  • Yahoo! Buzz
  • Mixx
Add a Comment
by lonestartnow October 1, 2008 12:27 PM EDT
Instead of even talking about "diets" we tell our clients to focus on making positive nutritional choices and begin to find ways to become more physically active. I''m co-founder of the LoneStart Wellness Initiative, and we focus on "positive eating." The road to better health is paved with the small decisions we make every day, and eating "real" food--but the right amount, watching portion sizes and staying away from or limiting packaged and fast foods will lead to weight loss. When it becomes a lifestyle change, that weight loss will be long-term and sustainable.
Reply to this comment

Exclusive Webshow

Mike Huckabee on GOP "rock stars," 2012, health care reform and more. Watch Now

  • MOST POPULAR
Latest News
News in Pictures
Scroll Left Scroll Right
Connect with CBS News

Stay connected with the CBS News using your favorite social networks and online news applications: