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Nutrition.gov
U.S. Department of Agriculture

What You Should Know About Popular Diets

Learn to evaluate claims made by weight loss plans and products, and get information on weight loss strategies that are healthy, effective, and safe.

  • Healthy Weight

    Discover how some fad diets can limit nutritional intake, can be unhealthy, and tend to fail in the long run.

    • HHS, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion

  • Avoid Dangerous HCG Diet Products

    Learn information about the human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG) diet.

    • HHS, Food and Drug Administration

  • Warnings on Weight Loss Products

    Review the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) warnings and public notifications on weight loss products before starting a weight loss supplement.

    • HHS, Food and Drug Administration

  • “Detoxes” and “Cleanses”: What You Need To Know

    Discover what research says about the safety and effectiveness of detoxes and cleanses for weight loss.

    • HHS, National Institutes of Health, National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health

  • Know the Science: 9 Questions To Help You Make Sense of Health Research

    Ask yourself these 9 questions when reviewing new research studies.

    • HHS, National Institutes of Health, National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health

  • Know the Science: The Facts About Health News Stories

    Learn how to determine if “facts” about new health research from news or media are accurate.

    • HHS, National Institutes of Health, National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health

  • Probiotics Usefulness and Safety

    Get the facts on probiotics, including what they are, if they're effective, and how they work in the body.

    • HHS, National Institutes of Health, National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health

  • Calorie Restriction and Fasting Diets: What Do We Know?

    Learn about fasting diets and why this fad may not be safe or realistic.

    • HHS, National Institutes of Health, National Institute on Aging

  • Choosing a Safe and Successful Weight-loss Program

    Discover where to start when choosing and evaluating a weight loss program.

    • HHS, National Institutes of Health, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases

  • Some Myths about Nutrition and Physical Activity

    Use these tips to make changes to daily eating and physical activity habits and improve well-being to reach or maintain a healthy weight. 

    • HHS, National Institutes of Health, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases

  • Learn About Gluten-Free Diets

    Get information on topics including when a gluten-free diet is required, and what foods contain gluten. 

    • HHS, National Institutes of Health, National Library of Medicine, MedlinePlus

  • Dietary Supplements for Weight Loss

    Discover what’s known about the safety and effectiveness of ingredients commonly used in weight-loss dietary supplement products.

    • HHS, National Institutes of Health, Office of Dietary Supplements

  • Fad Diet Red Flags

    Learn what signs to look for when considering a diet or weight loss program.

    • Department of Defense, Uniformed Services University, Consortium for Health and Military Performance

  • The Truth Behind Weight Loss Ads

    Watch this video to learn how to spot false promises in weight loss ads.

    • Federal Trade Commission

  • Mindful Eating [VA.gov; PDF | 0.2 MB]

    Read this handout to learn more about mindful eating, and how to practice it at home.

    • U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs

  • Finding the Truth I: Reliable Nutrition and Health Information

    Use this publication to provide a strong foundation for making informed, rational decisions about nutrition and health information.

    • North Dakota State University Extension Service