This chapter discusses the representative areas of contemporary food faddism. It also discusses the role of fiber in the diet, a current fad in human nutrition. Aging individuals begin to note aches and pains where they never occurred before. Their vigor and their ability to sustain exercise begin to decline. With decreased activity, caloric usage declines while caloric intake stays the same or increases. The resultant obesity leads to a continuing search for the easy way out in the form of new and glamorous diets that are published in popular magazines and are found lining the shelves of bookstores. The most common variety of food faddism is engendered by the most serious nutritional problems that are overnutrition or obesity. When carbohydrate is severely restricted or removed from the diet, the body loses salt and water. The result is a rapid five to ten pound weight loss within the first week of following such a diet. This weight loss is not a real loss of body fat but is due to the loss of body fluids. As soon as the individual resumes carbohydrate intake, the fluid and salt are retained once again and weight gained. The intake of fiber in the diet is encouraged by gastroenterologists for individuals with the irritable bowel syndrome, constipation, or diverticulosis. Considerable success has been observed in treating these disorders with high fiber diets.
