Fad Diets Don’t Work: How to See Real Weight Loss Results in Phoenix

If you’ve ever bought into a diet plan that promised fast results, minimal effort, vilified major food groups, or offered a “magic bullet” for your weight loss, you’ve encountered a fad diet. 

While these tactics have been around for many years, they have become increasingly popular and discreet over the years with the popularity of social media. While these fad diets are notorious for promoting cookie-cutter diets and exercise plans, the truth is that obesity is a complex medical condition, and no two bodies are alike. 

If you carry excess weight or have trouble losing it, you are likely dealing with an underlying health issue such as inflammation that must be addressed first. 

Fad diets are running rampant throughout Phoenix today and are making false claims that you can lose weight quickly without making any major diet or lifestyle changes. While some fad diets may offer temporary results, they rarely offer long-term weight loss and many come with harmful side effects. Knowing how to spot a fad diet, and learning more about safer alternative options, is the key to achieving sustainable, long-lasting weight loss.

How to Identify a Fad Diet

Have you ever noticed that some of the most popular fad diets seem to pop up overnight? They are touted as being the newest, most innovative way to lose weight quickly, and typically demonize several vital food groups including carbohydrates and fats. They make erroneous claims that eliminating these food groups from your diet will produce quick, long-lasting results with minimal effort on your part. Some will even insist that their proprietary supplements or pre-made meals are the key to getting the results you want, and almost never have any concrete scientific evidence to back their claims. Most of them rely solely on the testimonials of previous customers to sell their products, rather than legitimate scientific research. Some of the most common traits of a fad diet include:

• Low daily calorie intake
• Excessive food restrictions
• Insisting that your body chemistry can be changed by food
• Strict or unsustainable rules
• Claiming that their supplement, shake, or proprietary meal delivery service is vital to your success

You will often see fad diets being promoted by celebrities and popular social media influencers who claim that the average American can achieve the same results they have by participating in the diet or exercise plan.

Why Fad Diets Don’t Work

Most of us have listened to a friend brag about their newfound weight loss or a co-worker tell us all about how she finally shed that baby weight. They beg you to follow in their footsteps. They try explaining how other diets “get it all wrong.”

Although many people do see some results after starting a fad diet, the reality is that these diets are not sustainable and will not offer permanent results. Once you stop participating in the diet and go back to your normal lifestyle, the weight comes back, often with a vengeance. Most fad diets are unsustainable for long-term use, and many even come with a slew of potentially harmful side effects such as nutrient deficiencies and symptoms like fatigue, brain fog, and anxiety. If you are looking for sustainable weight loss in Phoenix, know that fad diets are not the way to go. 

Anyone who has struggled with their weight knows how frustrating it is to be stuck in an endless cycle of diets and exercise regimens that offer minimal results. Obesity is a medical condition that has underlying causes that must be addressed before you experience lasting weight loss. If you’ve tried everything to lose weight but have not found the success you are looking for, you most likely have an underlying condition that is keeping you stuck in this endless loop. 

Since fad diets offer one-size-fits-all approaches to weight loss, it is even more frustrating when you don’t see the results that you were promised, or that others around you achieved. Nutrition is a complex topic, and every body is different. We all have different nutritional needs, and we all need to treat our bodies as individuals. 

In some cases, doctors may recommend that their patient follow the protocols of a popular fad diet to address their unique medical needs, but they are monitored by a healthcare professional to ensure that their body is responding appropriately to the changes. Since most fad diets exclude major food groups like fats and carbohydrates, those who participate in them are at risk of developing even more serious health conditions as a result of nutrient deficiencies. Doctors prescribe diets because the pros outweigh the cons for their patient, but they are not meant to be utilized by everyone who wants to lose weight. The risk of developing muscle weakness, gut issues, nutrient deficiencies, and dehydration are too great for most people, so doctors must supervise their patients for any signs of distress. For most people, the risks are just not worth any short-term results a fad diet may offer.

Sustainable Weight Loss In Phoenix

If you are seeking sustainable weight loss options and are ready to end the cycle of yo-yo dieting, the team at Novis Health in Phoenix is ready to help! The key is to work with experts who will dig until they find the root cause of your weight issues, and create a personalized diet plan that is tailored to your needs. 

These root causes might include:

• Overload of toxins
• Inactive lifestyle
• Thyroid issues
• Excess stress hormones
• Hormone imbalance

At Novis Health in Phoenix, we utilize a functional medicine approach to help you find lasting weight loss solutions. Our patient-centered approach ensures that we only recommend safe, effective weight loss strategies that are sustainable for long-term use. Our goal is to support you in your health journey and treat you like the unique individual that you are. 
To learn more about how Novis Health can help you achieve your weight loss goals, schedule a consultation today!