Predicting 2009's Most Popular Diets

Fad diets are going the way of the dinosaurs, partly because most people end up gaining back more weight than they started with before dieting. Plus, most fad diets aren't sustainable for the long term.

"People are getting tired of dieting," says Ariane Hundt, a nutritionist and personal trainer in New York City. "They want to end the battle against their bodies."

Even so, there are always a few fad diets that crop up every year—and some even stick around. Here, health experts, nutritionists, and dietitians predict the seven most popular eating trends for 2009.

Eating green

Amy Hendel, health expert and author of Fat Families, Thin Families: How to Save Your Family from the Obesity Trap (Benbella Books, 2008), believes eco-friendly eating will continue to be a trend. This movement focuses on less meat consumption and more alternative proteins: fish, eggs, soy, nuts, beans and legumes. "It doesn't cost more to eat healthy," she says. "Beans, canned fish, fat-free milk, unprocessed raw grains, seasonal produce, frozen produce, skinless chicken parts (not just breasts), and targeted shopping with lists and coupons are both healthy and inexpensive."

Weight-loss education

Hundt agrees that green diets will stay strong, and adds that the approaches in 2009 will be balanced and focused on eating wholesome, organic foods. "I'm seeing more holistic approaches to weight loss," she says. "People want to be educated about how their body actually loses or gains weight, and they want to use [this] information to decide which dietary approach is best." This explains the enduring popularity of books like YOU: The Owner's Manual (Collins, 2008) and YOU: On a Diet (Free Press, 2006), by Oprah favorite Mehmet Oz, M.D., and Michael Roizen, M.D.

The "Biggest Loser" Diet

"This inspirational diet and exercise plan will stay popular because the weight losses and emotional stories on TV are so dramatic," predicts Hendel. But, she says the core elements of the TV show (constant support, extreme exercise, isolation, low calorie diets, personal trainers, and the pressure of being on national TV) are all huge factors in these weight loss success rates. Since most people don't have access to those perks, they may not experience the same results.

The morning banana diet

"At our annual dietitians' convention, the newest eating plan I heard about is the Morning Banana Diet, which is famous in Japan," says dietitian Laurie Beebe. This super-simple diet requires you to eat two bananas and drink room temperature water for breakfast, and then eat your usual way the rest of the day. Its effectiveness remains to be seen, but Beebe says, "Hey, if it helps you lose weight—for whatever reason—then go for it!"

The Skinny Bitch diet

It's another 'wait and see' on this two-year-old vegetarian diet, says Hendel, but it's become a mega-phenomenon because Victoria Beckham was seen carrying the book. "Skinny Bitch was a New York Times best-seller for months and has a follow-up cookbook," she says. "Recently, Eva Longoria admitted she bought the book and is eating more fruits and vegetables and choosing 'alternative proteins' some of the time." Hendel points out that the odds of any book or diet plan becoming a trend increase dramatically if a celebrity approves it—though famous endorsements don't necessarily reflect the effectiveness of a diet.

100-calorie packs

"I think the 100-calorie-pack craze is going to continue," says dietitian Jodi Greebel, author of The Little Black Apron (Polka Dot Press, 2007). "Everything you can think of will come in 100-calorie packs. Some companies are even trying to outdo the 100-calorie packs with 90-calorie packs." These wee packets are simple, tasty, and don't require planning or measuring (though the extra packaging isn't great for the environment!).

All in the family

Parental awareness campaigns about child and adult obesity, diabetes rates, and chronic disease statistics are affecting the whole family's eating habits. "I believe the family home dieting model, which I recommend in my book Fat Families, Thin Families, will become more popular," says Hendel. "Financial problems will cause more families to cook at home, and healthier ingredients will definitely become a trend." Eating plans that focus on health goals and protection against disease are growing stronger—and dieting for weight loss may simmer on the back burner in 2009.

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