Watch what you eat

-Yam Bahadur Dura

The regular appearance of unrealistically skinny models and film stars on TV screens leaves lasting impacts on young people, who aspire to look like them. With these unhealthy proportions, the idea of a 'perfect body' has been peddled by media narratives of in this modern world. Created by and for interest of the patriarchy, these unhealthy ideals, have led to rising rates of depression and self-esteem issues among women.

These days, people like seem to be seen like others, not as themselves. Different phrases that capture these ideals such as 'Barbie figure' or 'size zero' encourage women to aspire them by striving tangible goals. The growing hunger for attractive body has given rise to dangerous industry: fad diets.

Fad diet is a much discussed health-related topic in the present day world. As defined by the promoters, fad diet promotes specific routines of liquid and solid food consumption that promise to produce rapid weight loss, and other health advantages longer life and a more attractive body. Fad diets include high fiber, low-carbohydrate, low-fat, liquid diet, and low-calorie foods.

These diets are often portrayed as low-intensive routines that require minimal effort and produce high results. As stated in public records, modern fad diets came into existence in 1930 in the western world, and it has become an important topic in public health.

 Nepal has already entered the era of fad diets. Most people may not be familiar with the phrase 'fad diet'. But they may be prescribing to its routines using fad diet without knowing its meaning and consequences. Jamara, aloe vera juice, bottle gourd juices, herbal tea, etc. are part of many fad diets, which are increasingly gaining popularity.

Stalls of such products can be seen in the nooks and corners across town. On supermarket shelves all over the metropolis, one can also find plethora of 'slimming teas' and 'fat reducing creams' that promise similar effects. Unfortunately, based on their growing intrusion in the marketplace, it seems that a customer for these diets is amassing.

Fad diet is a big business, and it has become a money spinner for many investors. Promoters of fad diet present their products as a 'panacea for all health problems'. In addition, famous celebrities appear in advertisements of fad diets, and they give a stamp of approval to those products. These persuasive techniques of communication make general public believe in magical results of fad diets. Despite their popularity, the validity and relevancy of fad diets are doubtful.   Health experts are constantly refuting the claims of magical effects by conducting research that proves that many of these routines do not deliver on their promises.

Like everything else, fad diets have both pros and cons. In Jailen Johnson's thought-provoking article for American Council on Science and Health, 'Fad diets are bad diets', she writes:  'The Boston Medical Center reported that of the estimated 45 million American who go on a diet annually, 50% of them use fad diets.' A fad diet promises quick weight loss and that can be true, but that is because they are crash diets and involve unhealthy, unbalanced eating plans. Although fad diets have been proven not to work on multiple occasions, people still have faith in quick fixes.' 

While fad diets may reveal quick results at the onset, they can lead to several unhealthy impacts in the long run. The nature of any crash diet involves unhealthy and unbalanced eating plans that can lead to future digestion complications and weight fluctuation.  As Johnson highlights there are many healthy ways to maintain one's weight that do not include fad diets-including incorporation of whole and healthy food in their diet and exercise. Many experts believe that fad diets are based on pseudo-science. Even diets that claim to be 'backed by research' are often based superficial studies that are not peer-reviewed.

Then it goes without saying that products that are directly related to public health should not go unchecked.  Unregulated sales and uses of such products is a serious public health concern, which demands public discourse.  Its pros and cons should be widely discussed. Public should have an enough chance to be well-informed about positive and negative aspects, without which its validity remains in question.

There is no any short-cut and one-stop solution for health-related problems. Maintaining a healthy life and longer life is a lifelong process. Marian Nestle, an American professor of nutrition, has written a book 'What to Eat', wherein she writes, 'The basic principles of good diets are so simple that I can summarize them in just ten words: eat less, move more, eat lots of fruits and vegetables.' 

This is not to say that fad diets are meaningless and worthless. Rather, it is to encourage the idea of a' healthy sense of doubt'. This sense protects us from bad impacts of any commercial products before it is too late to correct them.

[Courtesy: The Kathmandu Post. February 3, 2019]