Are we seeing the end of fad diets such as the Atkins and South beach diets?

http://abcnews.go.com/Health/wireStory?id=407657

No. The simple reason is when people want to lose weight, they want to lose it quickly. Adopting a healthy eating plan and increasing exercise will cause a gradual weight loss and, in the long run, is much better for you, but most people opt for the quick-fix. That is also why they gain the weight right back. They haven't made any necessary life-long changes in what they eat and how much they eat. After leaving the diet, they revert back to their old patterns and the weight returns.

The main thing about fad diets is that that's all they are - fads. They're not something most people can maintain for the rest of their lives.

The *best* way to lose weight is to eat a little of everything. For example, cutting all carbs out of your diet is bad because your nerve cells need the carbohydrates in order to survive. That's why some people on the no carb/low carb diet are experience nausea, fatigue, etc. Then you look at that grapefruit diet and wonder how anyone did well on it at all.

Moderation and physical activity is the key. Also, there's a WONDERFUL article in the latest Reader's Digest about why there is no ONE diet that helps people lose weight. Also, a tip mentioned in the article is that you shouldn't deny yourself sweets that you crave - just don't eat many of them and when you do, make it a treat to yourself. The thinking is that when you deny yourself something, you eventually break down and gorge yourself.

And the best advice: Talk to your doctor! They know your body and what it needs and what it can handle.

But fad diets are here to stay, I think - to me, they're akin to wearing the latest shoes and such.

The French Paradox is a phenomenon that has been explored often. The French don't really bother with calorie counting or fat content or the nitty gritty stuff and instead, eat things with very high fat contents, sugary things, but in MINUTE quantities.
Because of this excellent taste and the savouring of these foods, you get a paradox. Fat intake seems to be high etc, and yet few French eating a traditional diet are overweight.

Yes, most French people walk much more as a way of life. Getting from public transportation to your workplace is enough to get you walking more per day.

But what really works it the taste of good foods and the pleasure. They eat small portions of things and quantity comes behind quality.

You'd be amazed at the types of cheeses people eat there because some have a 90 percent fat content.

I was amazed during my years there at the sugar industry having commercials for two lumps of sugar in your coffee giving you a boost of energy, or a bit of sugar on lovely ripe fruit. You'd never see that in America!

So, I think what we can learn from the French is that if the diet you're eating seems like a punishment rather than a reward, it's not going to 'take'.

Do they have diet fads and foods? Sure they do, but they don't let things get out of hand and the weight to go way over the limits.

Otherwise the devotion to food and high quality food that tastes good is what probably makes the French one of the countries that suffers less from obesity.

With the advent of fast foods to Europe however, you'll start seeing some overweight kids at school and that is a terrible plight. As the lifestyles change, so does the weight.

So, how many dinners did I attend when demeure ladies would have a slice of this cheese that's probably 90 percent fat? Many a time I saw this. But their diets are so balanced, they just don't gain weight.

The only diet I've ever used that really worked was having the reward meal once a day. Three years was a record for me, and it really helped because it left you the possibility of eating the 'forbidden' food once a day if you wanted, but once you knew that, you no longer wanted it!

I'll give you a parting example of how purist some of the French are. I gave some kids some crepes with chocolate made from some Nesquick I had around the house. They wouldn't eat it! Their mother apologized as she said they'd never had artificial chocolate.

Heather - you reminded me of a book I saw 'advertised' on the news here earlier this week. It's called 'French Women Don't Get Fat' and is written by a woman from France who moved here. It's all about the French idea of food and that way of life.

Do you people in cold climates burn more calories just maintaining body temp and are thus able to eat fattier foods without getting fat.
What would happen to an eskimo if he maintained his diet when he moved to the sahara?
I lost seven kilos in a month before christmas by usin the outlandish FResh fruit and vegetable diet!! Just ate normal meals but made an effort to eat healthy (Hello poached fish!). Easy peasy, no additional exercise. Just common sense people just want to lose their cake and eat it too, people designing diets know where the money is.