According to a recent study, by 2025, India will have more than 17 million obese children. With 14.4 million obese children already, India is second only to China, according to a study published by The Hindu.
Needless to say, obesity is a serious concern because it invites chronic diseases, such as heart disease and diabetes, which can even turn out to be fatal. The problem is that with the increasing proliferation of processed foods, heavy in sugar and fat, along with our increasingly sedentary lifestyles, it seems very difficult to remain fit.
The increasing number of overweight people in the country has also led to the popularity of various fad diets. Everyone seems to be looking for a shortcut to weight loss and fitness, which these diets promise. No doubt, being disciplined about what you eat will have a positive impact. However, remember that there are no shortcuts in life. Make sure you focus on eating healthy and physical exercise to gain fitness and lose those extra pounds.
In the meantime, here are the 10 most popular best diets for weight loss these days.
The GM Diet
Also known as the General Motors Diet, the GM diet came into existence in 1985. This diet plan was devised by the General Motors Company to help its sedentary employees lose weight quickly. This is a seven-day weight loss plan that promises to help you lose around 15 pounds or 6.8 kg in a week. The GM diet works by creating a calorie deficit, similar to most other diet plans. However, the food included in this diet is only fruits and vegetables. (Source)
The Keto Diet
The Keto diet appears to be an amazing way to lose weight and achieve rapid transformation.
Stand-up comedian Tanmay Bhatt states that he lost a whopping 110 kgs by making some dietary changes that involved the Keto diet, along with regular exercise under the guidance of Ranveer Allahbadia, founder of the social media channel, BeerBiceps, Ranveer, in his interview with The Times of India, revealed that when Indians take up Keto diets, they usually choose the wrong fats and fruits, and don’t eat food multiple times in a day.
He advised that before starting on a keto diet, focus on giving up completely on any kind of processed foods, sugary drinks, and white-colored foods to get the best results.
The 1200 Calorie Diet
A 1200 kcal/day diet plan is highly popular in India too. It is recommended by a large number of doctors, nutritionists, and gym trainers. According to the National Institute for Nutrition, the dietary needs of a sedentary man is 2300 kcal per day, while sedentary women need 1900 kcal/day. Cutting calories to significantly lower than this amount can, however, lead to fatigue and other health issues.
A 1200-calorie diet is a calorie-restricted meal plan that has been medically proven for weight loss, without causing any side effects, only if the person follows certain things. They should not skip breakfast and should evenly divide their meals throughout the day. The first meal of the day can consist of oats, cereal, milk, buttermilk, paneer, or a cheela.
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The Paleo Diet
Also popular as the Paleolithic Diet, Stone Age Diet, Caveman Diet, and Hunter-Gatherer Diet, a paleo diet is a highly popular diet plan that has taken its meal plan from the Paleolithic era, which dates back nearly 2.5 million years. It has natural food items like fish, fruits, vegetables, lean meats, nuts, and seeds as its main components. Foods like legumes, grains, and dairy products are also a major part of the Paleo diet, inspired by farming that emerged about 10,000 years ago.
The Dukan Diet
The Dukan Diet is a low-carb, high-protein diet that causes rapid weight loss without starving you. A French general practitioner, Dr. Pierre Dukan, who specializes in weight management created this diet in the 1970s, for people who were ready to give up everything but the meat in order to lose weight. The Dukan Diet works in 4 phases, the Attack Phase, Cruise Phase, Consolidation Phase, and Stabilization Phase.
The Atkin’s Diet
Also known as Atkin’s Nutritional Approach, this diet is a weight loss program created by cardiologist Robert Atkins in the 1960s.
This is an amazing diet plan that focuses on eating the right balance of carbohydrates, fats, and proteins for optimal weight loss and to keep it off while maintaining your health. The focus is to bring lifelong changes in eating habits to keep your weight within the normal range and keep your energy levels up. Following this diet plan will also prevent health problems like metabolic syndrome and high blood pressure.
The Atkins Diet is a low-carbohydrate fad diet promoted by Robert Atkins and inspired by a research paper he read in the Journal of the American Medical Association. The Atkins Diet is classified as a fad diet because it promotes unrealistic claims about weight loss and health benefits.
The Atkins Diet has several potential side effects, including constipation, headaches, bad breath, and muscle cramps. The Atkins Diet may also cause heartburn and irritate the lining of the stomach.
The Atkins Diet may cause weight loss in the short term, but it is not a sustainable weight loss solution. The Atkins Diet does not promote a healthy lifestyle or good nutrition, and it is not an effective long-term weight loss solution.
Liquid Diets
As the name suggests, liquid diets consist of nothing but liquids. So, all food needs to be consumed in liquid form. In this diet, all meals (3-4 times a day) are replaced by vegetable and fruit juices, including nectars and juices with pulp or shakes. You need to drink tons of water too.
If this is not sufficient for you, include plain ice cream, honey, syrups, or frozen yogurt in the diet. Liquid diets are very low-calorie diets that can go as low as 400-800 calories per day. This diet should only be taken under medical supervision since not everyone can successfully achieve this because it lacks several nutrients that our body requires.
The Vegan Diet
Veganism is an emerging trend across the globe. People are excluding any kind of animal product from life to protest against animal cruelty and exploitation. This diet is almost as popular as the Atkin’s Diet and consists of a wide variety of whole plant foods. These raw food items may include vegetables, fruits, and whole grains, all of which are partially cooked below 45-50°C. In the vegan diet, any kind of food product obtained from animals like eggs, meat, and dairy are excluded.
There are many pros and cons to the vegan diet. Some people believe that the vegan diet is the healthiest diet, while others believe that it is not as healthy as other diets.
The vegan diet has many benefits. One benefit is that it is rich in fiber, which can help to prevent constipation and promote regularity. Fiber is also beneficial for heart health, as it can help to reduce cholesterol levels. Additionally, the vegan diet is low in saturated fat and contains no cholesterol. This can help to reduce the risk of heart disease.
Another benefit of the vegan diet is that it is rich in antioxidants. Antioxidants are substances that can help to protect cells from damage. They can also help to reduce the risk of some chronic diseases, such as cancer. Additionally, the vegan diet is a good source of vitamins and minerals, including iron, calcium, and vitamin B12.
There are also some potential disadvantages to the vegan diet. One disadvantage is that it can be difficult to get enough protein on a vegan diet. Protein is essential for the growth and repair of tissues. It is also necessary for the production of enzymes and hormones. Good sources of protein for vegans include beans, lentils, tofu, nuts, and seeds. Another potential disadvantage is that the vegan diet is low in calories. This can make it difficult to lose weight on the diet.
The South Beach Diet
Designed by cardiologist Arthur Agatston in 2003, the South Beach Diet is a three-phase program. It requires you to cut out all fruits, carbs, and alcohol in the first phase. In the second and third phases, some of the food items are brought back into the meal plan.
When talking of carbs, we are referring to whole grain carbs that are rich in fiber. This diet can help you lose weight, but you might experience some negative effects, such as headaches, bad breath, mouth dryness, and more.
The South Beach Diet has several phases, and the first two phases are the most restrictive. During these phases, dieters are encouraged to eat lean protein, vegetables, and healthy fats. They are also encouraged to avoid eating processed foods, sugary foods, and bad fats.
The South Beach Diet is generally safe and can help people lose weight. However, there are some potential downsides to the diet, such as the fact that it can be difficult to stick to. Additionally, some people may not lose as much weight as they would like on the diet.
Weight Watchers
Weight Watchers isn’t exactly a diet plan. It is more of a lifestyle learning, which educates you about the ways you can eat healthily and exercise more. Their plan is available online. This is an easy-to-follow plan that offers recipes, workouts, and progress charts to help you track your eating habits and exercise routine.
If you are looking for ways to lose weight, focus more on eating right and exercising, rather than starvation diets that will leave you craving for the wrong foods. Anything that entails huge sacrifice is difficult to maintain over the long term.
Physician’s advice
There are many risks involved in trying various diets. Some of these risks include:
1. Health risks: Some diets may be unhealthy and can lead to health problems. For example, crash diets or fad diets that involve eating very few calories can cause serious health problems like malnutrition, anemia, and organ damage.
2. Weight gain: Some people may find that they actually gain weight when they start a new diet. This is because they may end up eating more food than they were before, or they may not be getting all the nutrients they need.
3. Time and money: Trying out different diets can take a lot of time and money. You may have to buy special foods or supplements, and you may need to spend time cooking or preparing meals.
4. Frustration: Dieting can be very frustrating, especially if you don’t see results. You may feel like you’re doing everything right but not seeing any weight loss. This can lead to discouragement and even giving up on your diet altogether.
There are many different diet plans out there, and people often have different results with different ones. Some people find that they lose weight on a low-carb diet, while others find that a high-protein diet helps them to shed pounds. There is no one perfect diet plan for everyone, so it’s important to find one that works for you and stick with it. Wishing luck to those who are trying out different diet plans in hopes of finding the one that will help them to reach their weight loss goals.
