From arsenic to baby food, the pursuit of quick weight loss has led to some truly disastrous diets. This article explores the history of fad dieting and why sustainable, balanced approaches are always the best choice for your health and well-being.
Today is the day that most people abandon their New Year’s resolutions. For many, the dream of shedding a few pounds fades into a quiet acceptance of reality. After all, diet culture has conditioned us to believe that weight loss requires extreme restrictions, impossible willpower, and the pursuit of thinness at all costs. It’s no surprise, then, that fad diets continue to dominate our feeds especially with TikTok now serving as a global megaphone for these often-harmful trends.
From the bizarre Oatzempic (oats and lime juice as a stand-in for the weight-loss drug Ozempic) to the downright dangerous dog food diet, the internet is filled with quick-fix solutions that promise transformation but rarely deliver it sustainably. But the worst diets throughout history prove one thing: restriction ultimately backfires. They might seem effective in the short term, but extreme diets wreak havoc on metabolism, mental health, and long-term weight stability. The worst diets throughout history prove one thing: restriction ultimately backfires. Picture: Lisa Fotios/Pexels So, let’s take a deep dive into four of the worst diets the world has seen and, more importantly, why it's time to rethink our relationship with food. In the 18th and 19th centuries, people seeking a faster metabolism turned to arsenic, a literal poison. The idea was that arsenic would stimulate the body's metabolic rate, helping to burn calories faster. What dieters didn’t realise (or ignored) was that arsenic is incredibly toxic. Even small amounts could cause gastrointestinal distress, organ failure, and death. Thankfully, this diet faded into obscurity, but it serves as a grim reminder: the pursuit of weight loss has historically led people to take extreme and deadly measures. A popular diet trend in the 2010s involved replacing meals with jars of pureed baby food. The premise? Portion control without the hassle of chewing. Celebrities and influencers endorsed it as a way to stay lean, but in reality, it was a deeply unsatisfying and nutritionally deficient approach. Baby food is designed for infants who are transitioning from milk to solids, not for adults who need fiber, protein, and a variety of nutrients. Sure, it might lead to short-term weight loss, but it’s neither sustainable nor healthy. The dog food diet - the manosphere’s most bizarre trend Perhaps the most baffling diet trend to emerge in recent years is the dog food diet. What started as a TikTok challenge turned into a serious high-protein fad among men in the online 'manosphere' communities. But here’s the problem: dog food is not formulated for human digestion and often contains excessive vitamin levels that can be harmful to humans. Not to mention, the taste is questionable at best. This diet reflects a growing trend of hyper-masculine eating habits, where extreme diets are framed as a test of toughness. But in reality, eating dog food doesn’t make you stronger; it just makes you misinformed. The grapefruit diet has been around since the 1930s, resurfacing in the 1980s and again in the early 2000s. The premise? Eat grapefruit with every meal because of its supposed fat-burning enzymes. The problem? No scientific evidence supports this claim. While grapefruit is a healthy fruit, relying on it as the cornerstone of a diet is nutritionally deficient and unsustainable. What’s worse, extreme calorie restriction (like the kind seen in this diet) can slow metabolism, making it even easier to regain weight once the diet ends. Despite decades of evidence showing that extreme diets don’t work, we keep falling for them. Why? Because diet culture thrives on insecurity. It convinces us that our bodies are problems to be solved, that thinness equals health, and that food must be controlled rather than enjoyed. Instead of chasing the latest fad, a balanced, sustainable approach wins every time: Ditch ultra-processed foods: They’re the real enemy, not carbs or fats. Practice mindful eating: The Japanese concept of hara hachi bu (eating until 80% full) is linked to longevity. The worst diets in history and today’s viral fads exist because we’ve been conditioned to believe that weight loss is the ultimate goal. But health is about so much more than a number on a scale. Instead of chasing unsustainable trends, let’s focus on building a positive relationship with food, embracing our bodies, and rejecting the toxic cycle of diet culture
DIET CULTURE FAD DIETS WEIGHT LOSS NUTRITION HEALTHY EATING SUSTAINABLE DIET MINDFUL EATING
South Africa Latest News, South Africa Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Mark Lamberti discusses purpose: Why leaders must define their ‘Why’African tech news, innovation, geek culture, games and more
Read more »
“Right Beside Me, Always”: Mzansi Hun Shares Wholesome Trip Back to University With GogoSouth Africa was warmed by one lady's wholesome content during her way back to university accompanied by her grandmother. Their bond was beautiful to watch.
Read more »
Despite recent threats, Trump was always going to pull funding to South AfricaTrump threatened South Africa with pulling financial aid, but this was always the plan from the very beginning of his presidency.
Read more »
12 Photos you should always have saved to your phone when travellingBreaking Stories
Read more »
Sundowns players and coach always fighting RibeiroMamelodi Sundowns have a super player in Lucas Ribeiro. Ronwen Williams has revealed they they always fight him.
Read more »
Orlando Pirates Transfer News: Direct Attacking MidfielderBetway Premiership giants Orlando Pirates are always scanning the market for the best players.
Read more »