In the new year, nearly half of all Americans say they wish to get in better shape.
Enhancing fitness is the most popular New Year’s resolution for 2024, according to a Forbes survey, with 48% of respondents aiming to achieve this. Although 4 out of 10 Americans are currently following a diet, 34% intend to set a resolution to reduce their weight. Of those surveyed, about 32% stated they wanted to make better dietary decisions.
Many people embark on diets with great enthusiasm, only to give them up quickly because of how exhausting the effort and dietary restrictions are. However, many find that sticking to a diet helps them lose weight, stay on track, and enhance important aspects like blood sugar regulation and heart health.
Three diet plans in particular proved to be popular in 2023
The Most Well-liked Diets
Based on a global analysis of monthly Instagram hashtag mentions and Google search frequency, a recent study identifies the top diet trends for 2023. Researchers looked at the benefits and drawbacks of the popular diets to help determine which diet would be best for different lifestyles and health objectives.
WW Global
WW International, formerly known as Weight Watchers, was founded in the 1960s and is still operating today. It emerges as the most well-liked diet of 2023. Oprah Winfrey’s endorsement of the program since 2015 and her agreement to buy 10% of the diet management company also contribute to its success.
Every month, 2.1 million searches and 7.5 million hashtags are made on WW International. The diet’s main goal is helping clients manage their weight through intelligent eating and individualized coaching that uplifts and encourages them. The diet covers all the food groups, promotes flexibility, and assists individuals in making long-term lifestyle changes.
The most popular diet, WW International, does have certain disadvantages. Since coaching is a component of the program, the monthly costs may be substantial. The program also necessitates a long-term commitment, and keeping track of the points in social situations can get difficult and tiresome.
In addition to being a certified nutrition coach, Alexandra VanStraten personally adheres to the WW diet. She thinks the reason the WW plan is the most well-liked is that it’s simple to implement. “The points system is easy to calculate on your phone, and the free points on foods like fruits, veggies, and proteins make it easy to find something to eat at all times.”
VanStraten claims that she was able to form wholesome eating habits thanks to the WW diet plan. “Instead of going to snack on crackers or an empty calorie, carb-heavy option, WW helps me pause and rethink my choice — which usually ends up with me picking a fruit, veggie, or other 0-point option. Before, when I would count calories, I would swap out for similar calorie count options, but with WW, I’m guided to make more healthy choices with fruits and veggies, which over the years has developed to become a habit.”
Dietary Keto
The Keto diet comes in second. Many believed that this diet would vanish after its brief 15-minute fame. Instead, to help with sticking to the plan, hundreds of books and websites offer advice and keto recipes. Nor is the ketogenic diet the newest kid on the block. The diet’s origins can be found in its application as an epilepsy treatment in the 1920s.
With over 13.3 million hashtags and 1,014,000 monthly searches, the keto diet is becoming more and more popular as a means of achieving quick weight loss and better blood sugar regulation. However, those new to keto must realize that the body takes time to adjust.
Initially, they might feel like they have the “keto-flu,” which is characterized by symptoms like headaches, fogginess, fatigue, irritability, nausea, and constipation. Careful planning is also necessary for diet adherence in order to guarantee adequate nutrient intake. Staying keto can feel restrictive and can be difficult in social situations.
Dietary Mediterranean
The Mediterranean diet is the third most popular diet. The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization sent physiologist Ancel Keys to Italy, where he became knowledgeable about the Mediterranean diet. In the West, it is called a diet, but in the Mediterranean region, it is just a way of life.
With 742,000 hashtags and 1.15 million monthly Google searches, the health benefits are a major draw. A decreased risk of heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and high blood pressure can arise from the lifestyle modification.
A well-balanced diet rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, nuts, and olive oil is the mainstay of the Mediterranean diet. While tracking calories or points is not necessary, it would be beneficial to have some guidelines regarding portion sizes. Furthermore, adding particular foods won’t guarantee success. For the diet to have the desired effects, a complete lifestyle transformation is required.
Numerous other diets are mentioned in the study as well, such as the Whole 30, plant-based, GOLO, Paleo, Noom, Carnivore, and others.
Notably, compared to the third-place Mediterranean diet, the WW International diet program and ketogenic diets had noticeably higher search volumes and hashtags on Instagram. This could be as a result of people being drawn to WW’s coaching services or the quick weight loss potential of keto.
Plant-based chef and registered dietitian Alexandra Caspero disagrees that you have to stick to a rigid diet regimen. “Trendy or not, we have a pretty good idea of what diets are considered the best for when it comes to both weight loss and health: diets rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean proteins, and heart-healthy fats are best.”
But according to Caspero, individuals should follow their own best judgment if they believe that adhering to a plan makes eating healthier easier. “If it helps someone to eat above the dietary pattern in a way that aligns with WW, Mediterranean, DASH, noom, etc., then it can work.”
Whichever diet you decide on, be truthful with yourself about your ability to stick to a schedule that suits your needs.
