RESUMO
Obesity has now become a huge public health issue not only in the developed world but also in developing countries. In view of the health hazards associated with obesity and more importantly for cosmetic reasons, many people, particularly the youth, have started resorting to 'extreme' weight-loss diets to achieve a rapid reduction in weight. These extreme diets are either very low in carbohydrate or very low in fat. Such extreme diets not only make the diet unbalanced but also have safety issues. Moreover, these are not sustainable in the long run. The weight that is lost is regained within a short period of time when people go off these extreme diets. This explains why the popularity of most extreme diets peaks as well as wanes rapidly. Instead of resorting to such extreme diets, correction of obesity is best achieved with balanced, healthy, nutritious diets which are low in calories, combined with adequate physical activity (exercise). Motivational counselling can also help people to initiate weight loss and sustain this weight loss over longer periods of time.
RESUMO
Objetivo: Analisar a composi��o nutricional das dietas da moda divulgadas por revistas n�o cient�ficas. M�todos: Foi realizado estudo transversal descritivo de dietas da moda selecionadas em revistas n�o cient�ficas. A composi��o nutricional das dietas foi calculada pelo software AVANUTRI� e comparada com a recomenda��o proposta pelas DRIS (Dietary Reference Intakes) para macronutrientes e fibras alimentares de acordo com valores propostos pela IV Diretriz Brasileira sobre Dislipidemias e Preven��o da Aterosclerose. Para o c�lculo das dietas, foram adotadas como padr�o as recomenda��es para mulheres com 160cm e 61,8kg. Resultados: Foram analisadas 12 dietas publicadas em quatro revistas distintas. O aporte energ�tico oscilou de 720 a 1720kcal/dia. Ao comparar com os macronutrientes, 5 (41,6%) card�pios apresentaram quantidade excessiva de prote�nas; 6 (50%), insufici�ncia de carboidratos; 9 (45%), insufici�ncia de lip�deos; e apenas 2 (10%), quantidade suficiente de fibras. Conclus�o: Os resultados apontam que a maioria das dietas publicadas em revistas n�o cient�ficas apresenta inadequa��es na distribui��o de macronutrientes, o que pode comprometer o estado nutricional dos indiv�duos. Esses dados refor�am a import�ncia de que as dietas sejam individualizadas e acompanhadas por profissional habilitado, um nutricionista.
Objective: To evaluate the nutritional composition of fad diets in non-scientific magazines. Methods: This is a descriptive cross-sectional study of fad diets selected from non-scientific magazines. The nutritional composition of diets was calculated by AVANUTRI� software and compared with DRIS (Dietary Reference Intakes) for macronutrients and fibers according to the values proposed by the IV Brazilian Guidelines on Dyslipidemia and Prevention of Atherosclerosis. Standard recommendations for women of 160cm in height and 61.8kg in weight were adopted to perform the calculation of diets. Results: We analyzed 12 diets published in four different magazines. The energy intake ranged from 720 to 1720kcal/day. Regarding macronutrients, 05 (41.6%) menus presented excessive amount of protein, 06 (50%) showed carbohydrate insufficiency, 09 (45%) presented lipid insufficiency, and only 02 (10%) showed sufficient amount of fibers. Conclusion: The results indicate that most diets published in non-scientific magazines present inadequacies of nutrients, which may compromise the nutritional status of individuals. It is indispensable that diets be individualized and monitored by professional nutritionists.