RESUMO
Popular fad diets are practiced in Saudi Arabia but little is known about the nutritional adequacy of these diets. The aims of this study were to describe, analyze, and evaluate some popular fad diets and to make recommendations on their use. A total of 10 fad diets were chosen to be evaluated as they were established to be popular in Saudi Arabia. The internet and diet books were used to obtain descriptions and menu plans. Dietary analysis of three days menus for each diet was evaluated. A validated questionnaire for rating popular diets was used to analyze nutritional adequacy, daily energy allowance, recommended rate of weight loss, flexibility and sustainability, physical activity advice, use of supplements, claims, author's credentials and scientific evidence. Nutrients at risk were established by comparing analysis with National Reference Values. Overall scores for the 10 diets ranged from 12 to 65 out of 100. Scores for nutritional adequacy ranged from 12 to 32 out of 40. Four diets provided less than 4200kJ/day. Seven diets did not provide adequate carbohydrate intakes [<50% energy intake]. Nine diets did not provide recommended energy from protein [12-25%]. Six diets provided more than 30% of energy from fat with five diets providing more than 10% of energy from saturated fat. One diet was proven adequate but only with improvements to be made in some areas. No diets scored high enough to be recommended for use