What is a Fad Diet?

From trying to lean out for a spring break trip in Fort Laudy to getting rid of the notorious "Freshman 15" before summer, many college students have probably felt a need to lose some extra weight. To do this, they will probably change what they eat and how they exercise -- usually with an emphasis on what they eat.

But what happens when you realize you only have a couple weeks to shed those pounds? Ever heard of 'juice cleanses', the 'all-grapefruit diet', or dieting by eating only cabbage? These are examples of fad diets. According to Taylor Wolfram, MS, RDN, LDN (2017) at the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics , fad diets are "quick fixes" that are meant to help someone reach weight goals in a short amount of time. These are often very restrictive on food options, require a "magic product" purchased from a company, or are expensive to complete. Although they may make an individual lose weight, many people who undergo these diets don't know that they can actually do more harm than good.