The commonest type of diet followed for health reasons is one intended to cause weight loss in the treatment of overweight, and the term dieting is often assumed to refer to a weight-reduction diet.
Numerous types of weight-reducing diets have been marketed.
Most will cause some initial weight loss, but this is difficult to maintain because obesity is associated with the typical Western lifestyle of low physical activity and constant availability of highly palatable, energy-dense foods.
After obesity, the most common reason for requiring dietary changes is a high blood cholesterol concentration and associated ischaemic heart disease.
The blood cholesterol concentration is increased by diets high in saturated fat and cholesterol.
Reducing the intake of these factors causes a reduction in blood cholesterol, but most individuals find it difficult to change their diet sufficiently to have more than a small effect.
Other diets followed for health reasons include low salt diets for the reduction of raised blood pressure and gluten-free diets for individuals with coeliac disease.
High-fibre diets have become popular since the work of Denis Burkitt and others in the early 1970s.
Fibre is now defined as non-starch polysaccharides, and is supplied by unrefined cereals, vegetables, and fruits.
Fibre has several benefits, including the prevention of constipation and probably reducing the risk for coronary heart disease and cancer of the large bowel.
Next, alternative diet for high blood pressure and cholesterol
