Swinburne University 2014 COMM 10003 Learning & Communicating Online Assessment 2A Online Informational Resource Authors: Tamara de Michiel, Lauren Jeffery, Michelle Halliday, Charmian Pires and Dimity Colement

1. The Risks, Benefits and Media
Portrayal of Fad Dieting
COMM 10003 Learning and Communicating Online
Swinburne University 2014
Assessment 2A- Online Informational Resource
Wiki Group 2
Tamara de Michiel (ID 7649371)
Lauren Jeffery (ID 7681267)
Michelle Halliday (ID 9866566)
Charmian Pires (ID 7649460)
Diminity Coleman

2. Fad Diets
The notion of dieting is associated with both psychological
and physiological benefits with the dieter recognising a
need to make behavioural and lifestyle changes in order to
feel, look or live better. With obesity caused heart disease
and diabetes becoming more prevalent among society it
has become common practice for individuals to turn to
quick fix diets in an attempt to cultivate a healthier lifestyle
and reduce the risk of such diseases.

3. Google
When researching online it is much more straightforward to
find sources linking the benefits and successes of fad dieting
with a Google search of “how to lose weight” generating
over 400 million hits compared to its counterpart, “risks of
diets” only populating just over 11 million.
Figure 1- Zelman (2008)

4. Celebrity Endorsement
An online search on WebMD, a
fully accredited and Health on the
Net Foundation (HONcode)
certified website (Fad Diets
Directory, n.d.), lists almost 100
different types of fad diets in their
directory with links not only to
medically endorsed diets such as
Aitken’s but celebrity endorsed
diets such as “Dr Phil’s Ultimate
Weight Loss Solution”. This
indicates that individuals in
today’s society are happy to
follow a diet that may not be
endorsed or proven by credible
resources.
Figure 2- Britney (2011)

5. No Magic Solution
Many websites fail to cite risks
associated with fad dieting
choosing to focus solely on
perceived benefits however upon
researching; there is an array of
both credible and non-credible
resources available online. The
Better Heath website (State
Government of Victoria, 2011) is
government endorsed and has
suggested that fad diets can harm
your health with the Academy of
Nutrition (Eat Right, 2014) advising
that there is no product, pill or food
that can magically burn fat.
Figure 3- Kamiya (2009)

6. Risks of Fad Dieting
Both of these websites provided no
medical references however a fact
sheet published by the Kentucky
University College of Agriculture
(Bastin, 2004) found that fad diets
often put people at risk of varying
types of conditions by suggesting
people go without certain food
groups for extended periods of
time. According to Sandra Bastin
(2004), these may include reduced
lean body tissue, fluids, minerals,
and vitamin supplies. She outlines
possible side effects can include
but are not limited to anaemia,
kidney stones, gout and emotional
disturbances.
Figure 4- Watt (2014)

7. Risks of Fad Dieting
This theory was reinforced in an article by Eisenstein, Roberts,
Dallal & Saltzman (2012) focusing on high protein diets and
weight loss. It indicated that such diets promote two to
three times the U.S. daily recommended intake of protein
which can result in urinary calcium and bone loss advising
that those with kidney disease and diabetes should avoid
these types of diets; a fact often excluded from non-
credible resources promoting these diets as successful.

8. Risks of Fad Dieting
In an article for
WebMD (Jeanie Davis,
2011), a nutritionist and
national spokeswoman
for the American
Dietetic Association,
Tara Gidus, concluded
that fad diets increase
cholesterol and blood
pressure levels, which
puts diabetes sufferers
at further risk of
complications.
Figure 5- Cope With Diabetes (2013)

9. Risks of Fad Dieting
The majority of fad diets promote weight loss however more
often than not, only offer a temporary solution. In what can
often be a lifelong challenge, when a diet is stopped, the
participants re-gain the weight that they have lost and fail
to learn the basic principles of nutrition and maintaining a
balance between the consumption of “good” and “bad”
foods, adequate sleep and sufficient exercise.

10. Fad Dieting & the Media
The media often plays a pivotal role in
influencing men and women wanting
to start a specific fad diet and celebrity
endorsement plays a huge factor in the
decision-making process rather than
actual results.
Celebrities including as Jessica Simpson
and Jennifer Hudson have both
endorsed Weight Watchers (Clements,
2012) by sharing their success stories
with the public claiming that it is a
fantastic lifestyle choice and that every
week they lose weight and feel better.
Weight Watchers is a mainstream
weight loss program that focuses on
eating all the foods you love whilst still
losing weight.Figure 6- Weight Watchers (2014)

11. Benefits of Fad Dieting
A study conducted by Robyn
Osborn and Scott Kahan (2013)
indicated that that the Weight
Watchers program led to, on
average, a successful 10% loss in
body weight for participants. A
summary of studies into the effects
of weight loss on Healthy Weight
for Life (Healthy Weight for Life,
n.d .) have noted that just a 10%
weight loss can result in avoiding
type 2 diabetes; improved sleep;
reduced joint pain and even
improved fertility (REFERENCE
HERE).Figure 7- Google (2014)

12. Benefits of Fad Dieting
Other medical studies into diets
that could be considered fads
have found scientifically
proven benefits. The Paleo diet
which insists that we fuel our
bodies with foods consumed
by our prehistoric ancestors,
suggests that by consuming
unprocessed meats and
vegetables we can minimise
the aging processes at a
cellular level by benefiting from
many antioxidants that inhibit
carcinoma development
(Akers & Martin, 2013).
Figure 8- Johnson (2014)

13. Benefits of Fad Dieiting
Other clear indications are the benefits linked with
eliminating refined carbohydrates as suggested by the diet
craze “I Quit Sugar”. Refined carbohydrates slow metabolic
processes which lead to weight gain, lethargy and
increased risk of cardiovascular disease through vessel wall
break down (Adan, la Fleur, Kalsbeek, Luijendijk, & van
Rozen, 2010) so by eliminating these from the diet as
suggested, an individual can sustain long term weight loss
and improved well-being.

14. Fad Dieting
With the quantity of quick fix diets on the rise it is imperative
that an individual evaluates all risks and benefits associated
with any proposed diet or lifestyle choice. The concept of
dieting is always growing and changing and whilst not all
sources have authorship and official accreditation, they are
functional sites for listing the fundamentals associated with
the concept of dieting. More often than not, the media
present fad diets in a solely beneficial light neglecting to
inform followers of potential risks and long-term challenges
associated with fad diets so it is vital for participants to fully
research, assess and determine if a diet is suitable for their
individual needs.

15. Fad Dieting
Whilst eliminating certain things from a diet can be
beneficial for health and wellbeing (Adan, la Fleur,
Kalsbeek, Luijendijk, & van Rozen, 2010) there is a high risk
that eliminating others can lead to malnutrition and have a
detrimental effect on the body (Bastin, 2004) Whilst being
overweight comes with its own list of associated risks, more
often than not these can be exasperated by choosing to
follow a fad diet that has not been scientifically proven.

16. References
Adan, RAH., la Fleur, S.E., Kalsbeek, A., Luijendijk, M.C.M., & van Rozen, A.J. (2010). A
free-choice high-fat high-sugar diet induces glucose intolerance and insulin
unresponsiveness to a glucose load not explained by obesity. International Journal of
Obesity. 1-10.
Aker, J. & Martin, C.A. (2013). Paleo Diet versus Modified Paleo Diet: A Randomized
Control Trial of Weight Loss and Biochemical Benefit. Journal of the Academy of
Nutrition and Dietetics. 113 (9): Supplement p. A35-
Bastin, L (2004). Fad Diets. Retrieved May 1st 2014 from http://www2.ca.uky.edu/hes/
fcs/factshts/fn-ssb.119.pdf
(Figure 2) Britney, F (2011) Celebrity Diets: The Worst of the Worst. Retrieved April 28th
2014 via http://goo.gl/7k113h
Clements, E. (2012). Celebrities Weight Loss Plans: Stars Who’ve Endorsed Fad Diets.
Retrieved April 27th from http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/11/14/celebrities-
weight-loss-plans-endorsed-diets_n_2124932.html

17. References
(Figure 5) Cope With Diabetes (2013). Diabetes Complications. Retrived May 2nd 2014
via http://goo.gl/jtBCYj
Davis, J (2011). Diabetes and the risks of fad diets. Retrieved April 22nd from http://
www.webmd.com/diabetes/features/diabetes-risk-fad-diets
Eat Right Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (2014) It’s About Eating Right. Retrieved
April 15th from http://www.eatright.org/Public/content.aspx?id=68511-
Eisenstein, J., Roberts, S. B., Dallal, G., & Saltzman, E. (2002). High-protein Weight-loss
Diets: Are They Safe and Do They Work? A Review of the Experimental and
Epidemiologic Data. Nutrition Reviews, 60(7), 189-200.
(Figure 7) Google (2014). Image retrieved April 15th 2014 via http://goo.gl/
Kbhuv0Figure
Healthy Weight for Life (n.d.) Medical Benefits of a Healthy Weight. Retrieved April 9th
2014 from http://www.healthyweightforlife.com.au/medical-benefits.php

18. References
(Figure 8) Johnson, K.M. (2008) Controlling cravings while on the Paleo Diet. Retrieved
April 30th 2014 via http://goo.gl/S1D0wC
Kahan, (INITIAL?) & Osborn, R. (2013). Weight loss was greater with Weight Watchers
than with a behavioural program plus Weight Watchers. Annals of internal medicine.
159(10), pp JC5.
(figure 3) Kamiya, N. (2009) Fad diets don’t work- so what does? Retrieved May 1st
2014 via http://goo.gl/ub3qoe
State Government of Victoria (2011) Weight Loss and Fad Diets. Retrieved April 16th
2014 from http://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/bhcv2/bhcarticles.nsf/pages/
Weight_loss_and_fad_diets
(Figure 4) Watt, S. (2014) Eat for Health- The weight loss and new body will just be an
added benefit. Retrived May 7th from http://goo.gl/De2IT9

19. References
WebMD (n.d.) Fad Diets Directory. Retrieved April 20th, 2014 from
http://www.webmd.com/diet/fad-diets-directory?catid=1006&page=1&sortorder=title
(Figure 6) Weight Watchers (2014) Jessica Simpson’s Story. Retrieved May 10th 2014 via
http://goo.gl/RdfAAh
(Figure 1) Zelman, K.M (2008) Lose Weight Fast: How to do it safely. Retrieved May 6th
2014 from http://goo.gl/C46eFB

20. Bibliography
WikiAnswers (2014) Mass Media and Dieting. Retrieved April 3rd 2014 via http://
wiki.answers.com/Q/Mass_media_and_dieting&isLookUp=1#Q=mass%20media
%20and%20dieting
Wikipedia (2014) Lifestyle trends and Media. Retrieved April 17th 2014 via from http://
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lifestyle_trends_and_media