When was the diet founded? A Historical Look at Eating Habits

November 24, 2025 •

1 min read

While the modern concept of dieting for aesthetic weight loss is relatively recent, dating to the mid-19th century, the practice of regulated eating dates back much further. The word 'diet' itself stems from the ancient Greek diaita, which signified a holistic way of life, including habits and exercise. When was the diet founded with its current restrictive focus?

Quick Summary

Tracing the origins of dieting from ancient Greek holistic living to the 19th-century focus on weight loss. The first popular weight-loss diet was introduced by William Banting in 1863, evolving into today's diverse diet industry. The meaning of 'diet' has shifted significantly over centuries.

Key Points

Ancient Origins: The word "diet" comes from the ancient Greek diaita, meaning a holistic way of life, not just food restriction.
First Weight-Loss Diet: The first popular diet specifically for weight loss was introduced by William Banting in 1863, focusing on a low-carb, high-protein approach.
Calorie Counting: American physician Lulu Hunt Peters popularized calorie counting for weight loss in her 1918 book, making it a widespread practice.
Societal Shift: The early 20th century, particularly the 1920s, saw a major shift where a thin physique became a dominant beauty standard, increasing the pressure to diet.
Modern Diet Industry: The modern diet industry, with its endless cycle of fad diets, began flourishing in the 20th century, driven by changing societal ideals and increasing food availability.

The Ancient Roots of Diaita

In ancient Greece, the word diaita encompassed a complete lifestyle rather than just food intake. It referred to a way of living that included a balance of nutrition, exercise, and daily habits to achieve and maintain health. Philosophers and physicians like Hippocrates emphasized diet as a critical component of health and treating disease. These ancient ideas were based on health, not the aesthetic pursuit of thinness, which was not the societal ideal until the 19th century.

The First Popular Weight-Loss Diet

The focus on dieting specifically for weight loss emerged in the 19th century. More information about the history of slimming diets can be found on {Link: MDPI https://www.mdpi.com/2673-4168/2/2/11}.

The Rise of Modern Dieting and Calories

The late 19th and early 20th centuries saw a significant shift towards the modern concept of dieting, fueled by changing beauty standards that favored a slimmer figure, especially for women. You can explore the history of dieting further on {Link: Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dieting} and {Link: Teen Vogue https://www.teenvogue.com/story/diet-culture-history-from-ancient-greece-to-ozempic}.

Conclusion: From Lifestyle to Industry

The history of dieting shows a dramatic shift from a holistic ancient Greek concept of diaita to the modern, often commercialized, focus on weight loss.

Key Learnings on How the Diet was Founded

FAQs About the History of Dieting

Frequently Asked Questions

The practice of dieting for the primary purpose of weight loss became popular in the mid-19th century, famously promoted by William Banting in his 1863 publication.

One of the first popular commercial weight-loss programs was Weight Watchers, founded by Jean Nidetch in 1963.

American physician Lulu Hunt Peters popularized the concept of counting calories for weight loss in her 1918 bestselling book, Diet & Health: with Key to the Calories.

Significant changes in food production (industrialization), evolving societal beauty standards (like the "flapper" look), and targeted marketing led to an increased focus on weight loss for aesthetic reasons.

Yes, ancient Greeks like Hippocrates advocated for regulated food and exercise as part of a holistic, healthy lifestyle, but this was generally not for aesthetic weight loss.

The Banting diet was a low-carbohydrate, high-protein eating plan published by William Banting in 1863. His plan emphasized avoiding sugar, starches, and fatty foods.

Yes, ancient dietary practices were more holistic, focusing on a balance of food, exercise, and lifestyle for overall health. Modern dieting, by contrast, is often narrowly centered on aesthetic weight loss and is heavily influenced by commercialism.