Tag: Weight loss history

First popularized in the 1860s, the Banting diet is known for its focus on limiting carbohydrates in favor of consuming higher amounts of fat. Named after obese British undertaker William Banting, this eating plan became widely known through his influential booklet, *Letter on Corpulence*, which detailed his dramatic weight loss and improved health. It established one of the earliest foundations for modern low-carb, high-fat diets.

According to Guinness World Records, the longest medically supervised fast ever recorded was 382 days, completed by a Scottish man in 1966. This remarkable feat sheds light on the extreme limits of human endurance when it comes to what's the longest anybody has ever fasted.

The ketogenic diet was not originally designed for weight loss, but rather as a medical treatment for a neurological condition. This high-fat, low-carbohydrate regimen was first developed in the 1920s at the Mayo Clinic to help control seizures in children with epilepsy, building upon the metabolic effects of fasting.

According to a 2021 study, approximately 49.1% of adults in the United States attempted to lose weight within the prior 12 months. However, the approach to weight loss in the 1980s was wildly different, relying heavily on quick-fix schemes rather than sustainable habits. So, what was the fad diet in the 1980s that captivated the nation's attention?

The term “diet,” which has evolved to mean restricted food intake for weight loss, was originally derived from the ancient Greek word “diaita,” which signified a way of living. This holistic approach to health and food predates modern dieting by millennia, making it impossible to attribute the concept to a single discoverer. Instead, dieting is a patchwork of cultural beliefs, medical advancements, and influential individuals that spans centuries.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, between 1988 and 1994, nearly 23 percent of adults were obese, fueling a huge market for quick-fix weight loss solutions. This surge in demand directly led to the massive popularity and ultimate downfall of the combined drug regimen known as fen-phen, a diet pill that was popular in the 90s.