 |
| Which (if any?) diet should you choose? |
From the bizarre to the dangerous, and occasionally to the surprisingly effective, these diets reflect our ever-changing relationship with food, body image, and wellness.
Let’s take a journey through the most notable weight-loss fads of the last 100 years, explore the “science” they claimed, and see whether any actually delivered.
🕰️ 1920s–1930s: The Era of Appetite Suppression and Food Combining
The Cigarette Diet
Claimed science: Nicotine suppresses appetite.
Reality: While technically true, smoking carries massive health risks and no reputable health authority endorses this method.
Success stories: Advertised as glamorous, but no safe or healthy legacy.
Claimed science: Mixing proteins and carbohydrates disrupts digestion.
Reality: No solid evidence supports the need for food separation. Believed it was based on old scientific knowledge that was proven incorrect.
Legacy: Still has niche followers today, especially among alternative health circles.
The Hollywood Diet
Claimed science: Grapefruit contains fat-burning enzymes.
Reality: No enzymes in grapefruit directly burn fat. Calorie restriction is the real reason for weight loss.
Success stories: Short-term losses, long-term failures.
1940s–1950s: Crash Diet Culture
Banana and Skimmed Milk Diet
Claimed science: Low-calorie, easy to follow, nutritionally balanced.
Reality: Severely lacking in nutrients.
Success stories: Mostly short-lived due to hunger and boredom.
Cabbage Soup Diet
Claimed science: Negligible calories lead to rapid fat burn.
Reality: Mostly water loss; weight quickly returns after stopping.
Legacy: Still circulates as a “quick fix” pre-event.
1960s–1970s: Extreme Measures and High-Protein Hype
Sleeping Beauty Diet
Claimed science: Sleep through cravings = no eating.
Reality: Dangerous misuse of sedatives; highly irresponsible.
Rumours: Elvis Presley may have tried it.
The Drinking Man’s Diet
Claimed science: Alcohol doesn’t affect ketosis; carbs are the enemy.
Reality: Alcohol provides empty calories and impairs judgement.
Legacy: Proto-Atkins diet with a boozy twist.
Scarsdale Diet
Claimed science: Rigid 14-day programme combining protein and veg.
Reality: Too low in calories, unsustainable, but quick results seen.
Success stories: Short-term success, long-term regain common.
1980s: Liquid Meals and Food Combining Resurfaces
The Beverly Hills Diet
Claimed science: Eat fruit first to trigger enzymes, combine foods properly.
Reality: Pseudoscientific and highly restrictive.
Success stories: Liz Taylor reportedly tried it.
SlimFast
Claimed science: Portion control through liquid replacements.
Reality: Effective for some as part of structured calorie control.
Success stories: Long-term studies show some success when used properly.
Cambridge Diet
Claimed science: VLCD (very-low-calorie diet) triggers rapid weight loss.
Reality: Often effective but must be medically supervised.
Success stories: Many NHS-backed success stories — still used today under medical guidance.
1990s: Low-Carb Mania and Blood Type Hype
Atkins Diet (Resurgence)
Claimed science: Carbs cause fat storage; remove them to burn fat.
Reality: Ketosis works for many but can be hard to maintain.
Success stories: Millions globally lost weight; long-term safety debated.
Zone Diet
Claimed science: Balancing macronutrients prevents inflammation.
Reality: Moderate and healthy for many.
Success stories: Used by celebrities and athletes.
Blood Type Diet
Claimed science: Your blood type determines optimal food digestion.
Reality: No credible evidence supports this.
Legacy: Still popular in wellness circles.
2000s: Clean Eating and Detox Culture
Raw Food Diet
Claimed science: Cooking destroys nutrients and enzymes.
Reality: Cooking can improve nutrient bioavailability in some cases.
Success stories: Some experienced weight loss, but nutrient deficiency is a concern.
South Beach Diet
Claimed science: Avoid bad carbs and fats, focus on low-GI foods.
Reality: Sounder science, encourages balanced nutrition.
Success stories: Popular among middle-aged adults seeking moderate weight loss.
Master Cleanse
Claimed science: Detox the body with a lemon/cayenne/maple drink.
Reality: No scientific basis for “detoxing” in this manner.
Success stories: Beyoncé famously used it for a role — not sustainable.
2010s: Back to the Stone Age – and Beyond
Paleo Diet
Claimed science: Modern farming created health problems; eat like ancestors.
Reality: Removes processed foods but oversimplifies nutritional evolution.
Success stories: Many experienced improved energy and weight loss.
Keto Diet
Claimed science: Fat fuels weight loss when carbs are nearly eliminated.
Reality: Works well for some, but side effects (“keto flu”) are common.
Success stories: Widely documented success; now used for epilepsy treatment too.
Alkaline Diet
Claimed science: Alkalising foods balance body pH and prevent disease.
Reality: The body tightly regulates pH regardless of diet.
Legacy: More pseudoscience than results.
Military Diet
Claimed science: Food combinations trick the body into burning fat.
Reality: Simply a calorie-restricted plan.
Success stories: Rapid (mostly water) weight loss.
2020s: Apps, Meat-Only, and “Science-Backed” Starvation
Carnivore Diet
Claimed science: All plant foods are inflammatory; meat-only heals the body.
Reality: Highly controversial and potentially dangerous long-term.
Success stories: Some report autoimmune relief — unproven in research.
Sirtfood Diet
Claimed science: Sirtuins activate “skinny genes”.
Reality: Based on very early-stage science.
Success stories: Adele’s dramatic weight loss brought this diet fame.
Intermittent Fasting
Claimed science: Eating windows improve metabolism and insulin sensitivity.
Reality: Backed by increasing scientific evidence.
Success stories: Widespread and sustainable for many.
Noom & App-Based Dieting
Claimed science: Cognitive behavioural therapy and psychology help build better habits.
Reality: One of the more sustainable modern approaches.
Success stories: Clinical studies show moderate, lasting weight loss.
Key Notes:-
Fad diets may promise quick fixes, but long-term success still comes from sustainable lifestyle changes — balanced nutrition, movement, sleep, and stress management. Still, many of these diets sparked important conversations about food and health, even if their claims didn’t hold up to scrutiny.