Failing since 1896
I want to appreciate when someone gets it right, I really do. But when they follow up the rightness with a healthy scoop of FAIL … well, thanks for nothing, guys.
The ugly
Have you heard of the Five Bite Diet? It’s exactly as simple as it sounds, and twice as stupid: Don’t eat breakfast, and for lunch and dinner you eat five bites of whatever you want. That’s it, whole plan.
You might be thinking, “Well, that’s obviously stupid, who would do that?” But follow the references to it online and you’ll learn the term “pro-ana”. Which is shorthand for pro-anorexia. Yes, there are people out there who speak favorably about one of the most dangerous eating disorders there is, and they all love this diet.
And it’s created and promoted by an MD. In a sane world he’d lose his license for gross malpractice.
The good
The Healthy Eating site on SFGate.com has a review of the diet. After describing some of the general problems with all extreme-low-calorie crash diets, they say:
While you will probably still lose weight even if you choose less healthy foods like hamburgers and fries or candy bars for your five bites, you’re unlikely to get the nutrients you need.
Which is great, and I totally agree. But then they follow up with …
The bad
A healthy diet focuses on nutrient-dense foods like whole grains, fruits, vegetables, low-fat dairy and lean protein sources.
You were so close! Turn that quote 180 degrees, leave off the whole grains, and drop “lean” and “low-fat” and you’ve got a winner.