When tasting a lite snack, the body prepares to receive a lot of calories, but ends up running on very little – and this causes confusion and makes it seek more food.

This finding partly explains why obesity is still spreading in the Western world, despite the extensive use of  lite foods by millions of people worldwide.

The substitution of part of the food with foods that have similar taste but fewer or zero calories, looks like a very sensible approach to weight loss.

However, many different biological mechanisms are factored in. These substituents mimic the taste of fat, but do not provide calories – and this causes confusion in the body.

The various flavors naturally stimulate your body to expect to be supplied with calories, which it will then digest.

When this does not happen, the body perceives it as a problem of the control mechanism of food intake and activates other mechanisms to compensate for this dysfunction.

Researchers studied the variations in body weight in a group of rats. Half the animals ate full-fat bread sticks for 28 days, while the rest ate normal breadsticks for a few days and then began to feed on the lite version. At the end of four weeks, the rats that had changed diet weighed more and had more body fat than than those who ate low fat bread sticks until the end of the study.

The researchers noted that even though this study was done in animal models, there are many similarities with humans. The findings call into question the effectiveness of using fat substitutes in a long-term strategic control of body weight.

It is true that in recent years issues related to diet and weight loss are among the most sought after. One of the smartest commercial fabrications of the “weight loss industry” are the unorthodox diets (fad diets). These diets are based on two principles:

1. The imbalance in macro-nutrient ingredients summarized in the following characteristics: Very low-carbohydrate, high in protein, low in fat.

2. In eating or avoiding certain foods from your daily diet.

Famous examples are: the Stilman diet in 1967, the Atkins diet in 1972, the Beverly Hills diet in 1980, in 1981 the Cabbage Soup diet and in 1995 the Zone diet.

The additional data characterizing the fad diets are:

- The questionable credibility of the author.

- The diet promotes:Magic and miracle foods, Quick Weight Loss, Not exercising, Strict menu, “Good” and “bad” foods.

- Diet is too good to be true!

What should be clear is that there are no studies to support these diets. In contrast, these diets are characterized by the use of empirical evidence rather than concrete facts to prove their effectiveness and lack of any criticism from colleagues.

The side effects listed after the application of such diets is headaches, dizziness, nausea, lack of concentration and more severe as ypercholisteroloaimia, hypertriglyceridemia, anemia, lack of vitamins and minerals which can lead to thinning hair, breaking nails and more systematic problems.

Weight loss usually occurs in fad diets due to fluid loss and muscle tissue, not fat loss. Another major disadvantage of these diets is that the person takes wrong eating habits and is not trained in a universally healthy eating way of life. The result, after completion of the nutritional program, is that the person reverts to their old habits and regain the lost weight, sometimes even more.

It is scientifically documented that the most effective weight loss program is the one that combines a balanced diet, changing eating habits and regular exercise.

Following the diet suggested by a friend, an acquaintance or just a diet that has fallen into our hands, is very likely not gong to have the desired effect, but may create problems in the body and our health.

Who should we contact to have a correct and valid information?

When we start a diet, always seek the advice of a specialist (a dietitian-nutritionist scientist) who will develop personalized dietary recommendations based on age, sex , history, habits and particular needs of each individual.

Unfortunately due to lack of state controls diets are suggested by people who do not have that capacity, such as gymnasts, often because they have some education they think they know the science of nutrition, from beauticians, physiotherapists, acupuncturists, doctors without equivalent academic training and others.

There are known supplement companies that use accountants, economists, etc. to practice the profession of dietician to promote their products. The correct and accurate research is the best approach before choosing the appropriate scientist.