This is why certain trendy diets don’t work for everyone

This is why certain trendy diets don’t work for everyone

Keto, Paleo, vegan, low-carb. These diets, along with countless more trends, help many people lose weight. But there isn’t one single diet out there that works for everybody.

The quest to find the “Magic Diet” is becoming a myth as evidence mounts that a one-size-fits-all approach doesn’t exist.

Research shared by the American Society for Nutrition shows that different people may respond to the same foods very differently. Even among identical twins, the meals and diets that cut fat and lower blood sugar for one person may not affect or even raise it for somebody else.

These findings upend many commonly held notions about dieting, nutrition and weight loss.

“One way of eating is not going to work for everyone,” says Chelsea Tauer, registered dietitian at Aurora Health Care.

Creating a personalized plan for weight loss

What does this mean for our diets? It shines a light on creating a personalized diet – based on healthy habits – that will put your body in a position to shed pounds.

“Eating is individual. It is 100% customized to you,” says Tauer. “You must determine what is going to make you feel your best and what is going to be right for you.”

Regardless of the diet that works best for you, Tauer says that there are some basic tenets that everybody should follow to eat healthy:

  • Exercise
  • Eat a variety of foods
  • Get enough sleep
  • Drink enough water
  • Manage and decrease stress

The takeaway

For those looking to lose weight, it can be easy to latch on to the newest fad or follow a list of dietary do’s and don’ts. But, as the research shows, these quick fixes don’t work for everybody. Tauer says it’s important to concentrate on the bigger picture and create eating and lifestyle changes that will lead to losing weight and a healthier outlook.

“To lose weight, accept where you are now, focus on one thing at a time, be consistent to help form habits, have accountability and accept the process,” says Tauer.

Worried about your weight? Take our quiz to learn if your weight may be affecting your life and future.

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Comments

4 Comments

  1. “Personalized” by trial and error???

  2. Every time I have had success losing weight, it has never been by following any of the diet fads. It’s been about exercise (30 minutes minimum a day of either walking or biking) combined with balancing things better but not eliminating anything. Eating more of what’s is overall better for you (upping the vegetables for example) but still allowing all things. I have found if I entirely restrict something, I am more likely to fall off the bandwagon. Portion size has also been very key. We Americans tend to eat larger portions than what we should. So now when we order curbside food, I move the food from the container to the plate and I don’t move all of it. I can usually get two good meals or at least a decent sized dinner and a smaller lunch out of the carry out.
    Yes it is something that you often have to figure out personally. For me it’s the following that I have found works best for me:
    Move more. Make better food choices but allow everything in moderation. Eat less.

    • Susan-a very realistic perspective! Thank you for sharing.

    • Very well said! A comprehensive lifestyle makeover instead of a fleeting trend is the way to good health. Moving more, sleeping well, stressing less, and eating more plant foods is the solution. Eating to a routine schedule is a good way, as well as meal planning. A physician trained in Lifestyle Medicine is trained to help motivate and inform, and can help anyone wanting a lifestyle makeover at whatever pace and amount they feel comfortable.

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About the Author

Matt Queen
Matt Queen

Matt Queen, health enews contributor, is a communication coordinator at Aurora Health Care in Milwaukee. He is a former TV sports anchor and journalist with extensive public relations experience across the health care spectrum. Outside of work, Matt enjoys watching sports (of course), cooking, gardening, golfing and spending time with his wife and two young children.