Countless health trends have surfaced and faded over the past five decades. Some of these trends quickly gained momentum due to promises of miraculous weight loss or improved well-being. Despite the controversy surrounding many of these health and fitness trends, many persist in society. Here, we will explore 8 of the most bizarre health fads that have made headlines.
1. Waist Training: The Corset Comeback
Waist trainers date back to the Victorian era when ladies squeezed into corsets to reshape their abdomens and have an hourglass figure. This revived trend made a comeback in modern society with the help of celebrities. Waist trainers promised to sculpt a tiny waist and promote fat loss. As a result, many people walked around wearing waist trainers for hours daily. However, waist trainers are discouraged by experts who say that it will weaken core muscles. To strengthen core muscles, lose weight, and get the desired shape, enthusiasts are advised to stick to traditional abdominal exercises.
2. Raw Milk: A Risky Revival
Some health enthusiasts endorsed raw, unpasteurised milk, claiming it retains natural bacteria that pasteurisation destroys. There was a resurgence in the availability of raw milk in the United States. However, there are significant health risks when drinking raw milk, and this was proven when there were 81 outbreaks that led to illnesses and hospitalizations. The outbreaks were caused by pathogens like E. coli and salmonella in raw milk. These pathogens are destroyed when the pasteurisation process takes place. Experts therefore recommend that people consume kefir or yoghurt for probiotic benefits.
3. E-Cigarettes: The Smokeless Solution?
E-cigarettes were promoted to be a safer alternative to smoking and an aid to quitting smoking. It was glorified by marketers for its lack of tobacco and the nicotine it contained. Smokers flocked to e-cigarettes, leading them to be very popular. However, the health risks associated with e-cigarettes were exposed in several studies. It was revealed that e-cigarette smokers are exposed to carcinogens and respiratory irritants. Additionally, there was no significant difference in quitting success rates between e-cigarette users and non-users.
4. The KE Diet: Weight Loss via Feeding Tube
The KE Diet is definitely among the most bizarre health trends that had many people raising their eyebrows. This trend required enthusiasts to be fed through a tube inserted through the nose. The feeding tube was used to intake a low-calorie formula. This extreme weight loss method resulted in health enthusiasts becoming malnourished, and it even put their bodies into ketosis. While feeding tubes are used in hospitals for life-saving purposes, experts have agreed that they are not the right solution for sustainable weight loss.
5. Toning Shoes: The Illusion of Effortless Fitness
Toning shoes promised to tone legs and burn calories, leading to their popularity. Fitness enthusiasts flocked to these shoes, but they were proved ineffective by studies. Studies showed that these shoes did not offer any additional benefits over what regular sneakers offer. As a result, toning shoe companies like Skechers were faced with lawsuits for false advertising and had to pay millions in settlements.
6. The Master Cleanse: Lemonade, Cayenne, and Fad Detoxing
The Master Cleanse claimed to offer dramatic weight loss and detoxification in the early 2000s. It was a popular trend that required fitness enthusiasts to consume a concoction of lemon juice, maple syrup, and cayenne pepper. The concoction claimed to purge toxins, but medical experts dismissed it as pseudoscience. The Master Cleanse led to participants losing essential nutrients, becoming constipated, and losing muscle.
7. Fat-Free Craze: When Low Fat Meant High Sugar
There was a surge in fat-free foods in the late 1980s to early 1990s. This was due to the theory that reducing your fat intake would lower your calorie intake. The market was dominated by fat-free foods, but while they contained no fat, they were high in sugar. The food manufacturers replaced fat with sugar, leading to a backlash. Additionally, studies later showed that a balanced diet requires healthy fats, which proved that not all fats are bad for your health.
