Do fad diets really work? - By Dr. Sílvia Coelho

Do fad diets really work? - By Dr. Sílvia Coelho

There's a lot of talk about weight loss. It's mainly the diets that promise rapid weight loss, as if by magic. And it's unanimous: all it takes is the headline - “Lose X kg in a week” - for the magazine to become a sales record and the products to sell out in the stores or markets. Anything goes: soup diet, flaxseed diet, points diet, protein diet, blood type diet, star diet, Detox... if it comes with a testimonial from a famous person, then that's what guarantees the success of the diet.

With the imposition of thinness as the standard of beauty, many people risk radical diets, which are used without any scientific proof of their quality and effectiveness, in an attempt to lose in a few days, and in a very easy way, kilos acquired in one or several years. It's important to remember that we have a metabolism that needs nutrients to function properly. A lack of at least one of them (or even an excess) can hinder the weight loss process.

When we subject our bodies to these restrictions and crazy things without explanation, various other imbalances can occur which can take on a greater proportion and actually become dangerous for your body. In the protein diet, for example, our body stops receiving its main energy fuel: carbohydrates. If we consume too much protein and fat (yes, fat is allowed on this diet!), the body is forced to transform protein (lean mass) into energy, both for the brain and for other energy-dependent functions. Not to mention that the body is overloaded with toxins from poor diet, which can actually build up and worsen our detoxification system.

This is one of the main reasons for the phase known as “plateau”, where there is no progress in losing weight. It's not hard to find people who lack energy, are apathetic, have low immunity, dry or oily skin, increased cellulite and flaccidity. In more serious cases, there are overload problems and/or kidney complications. What's more, it's almost never possible to maintain this false loss, and the gains are rapid, as the old habits are resumed.

Not to mention the imbalance it creates in our bodies, as nutrient deficiencies and increased toxic overload due to poor diet can lead to problems such as anxiety and binge eating due to deficiencies and imbalances in neurotransmitters responsible for satiety, compulsivity and hunger. In other words, what was bad can get even worse.

Restricting or prioritizing a certain food group also harms health, as they are not able to provide all the nutrients the body needs on their own. We must take into account that excess weight or obesity leads to imbalances that go much further, resulting in chronic inflammation and overload caused by the increased intake of refined carbohydrates, sausages, soft drinks, industrialized foods and excess toxic substances (toxins make it very difficult to lose weight), which are not easily eliminated from our bodies.

After all, what is the best diet? This is a frequently asked question, which I'm sure all professionals who work with food have the challenge of answering. The best way to lose weight, keep your skin, nails and hair healthy, and have a full head of steam is the one assessed by a competent professional who will carry out all the studies, biochemical assessments and other parameters. You are unique, so not everything that is good for one person will be good for you. He or she will be able to assess what your body really needs in order for everything to work at full speed. In order to lose weight in a healthy and effective way, it is essential to promote a dietary re-education, so that your goal can be achieved in the best possible way, safely and effectively. Once your body is working correctly, balance is established and everything that is excess is eliminated.

And remember: be wary of promises that are too miraculous and too fast. Each person has different nutritional needs, and each case must be analyzed and evaluated individually for successful treatment and effective weight loss.

Good health to all!