A diet that is written only to be followed for a short time is called categorized as one of the fad diets. The term has also come to mean any diet that explodes into national or international fame, only to plummet into obscurity. Examples include the grapefruit diet, the South Beach diet, and Jenny Craig.

Another name for these fad diets are food faddism. This refers to any form of food that becomes popular for a short period of time. These generally have some common elements, including:

- The food, or some ingredient within it, is thought to have amazing powers.
- Other foods are removed from the diet because they have negative properties that should be avoided.

As an example of these elements of fad diets in the diet, take the Atkins diet. Carbohydrates are avoided like the plague, because a carbohydrate low diet can do amazing things for your body. Low carbohydrates are extremely desirous in Atkins, because then the body enters a super fat burning condition. Although it is a long-term diet, it did have short phases during which carbohydrate cutting was taken to the extreme. But Dr. Atkins did intend that people could eat this way for the rest of their lives.

As with many fad diets Atkins rose quickly and fell just as quickly. It lasted a few years during which it seemed everyone you talked to was on the diet . Entertainment magazines were full of movie stars and music stars and sports stars who claimed amazing weight loss and fitness all due to the Atkins diet. Although still around today, the diet is far from as popular as it was at its height.

There are many risks associated with fad diets. Even a diet like the Subway diet, as first presented in the commercials, could have problems. It revolves around the extreme weight loss case of Jared who ate Subway sandwiches and baked chips to lose over 250 pounds in the span of a single year. But Jared had made a radical shift in his caloric habits. Such an extreme level of caloric intake cuts and rapid weight loss is unhealthy. The diet did include many positive aspects such as exercise, like walking.

Approach fad diets with caution. Youâ??re better off learning how to eat well on an everyday basis and maintaining a program of rigorous exercise.