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| Robert C. Atkins, MD, publishes "Dr. Atkins' New Diet Revolution," a high-protein, low-carb plan. (Getty Images) |
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| Fad diets come and go, but the idea of dieting itself has been around for centuries. From President Taft to Victoria Beckham, and the Grapefruit Diet to Slim-Fast, here's a look at some of the most famous (and infamous) moments in dieting history. (Getty Images) |
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| Lord Byron popularizes the Vinegar and Water Diet, which entails drinking water mixed with apple cider vinegar. (Getty Images) |
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| President William Howard Taft pledges to slim down after getting stuck in the White House bathtub. (Getty Images) |
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| The Lucky Strike cigarette brand launches the "Reach for a Lucky instead of a sweet" campaign, capitalizing on nicotine's appetite-suppressing superpowers. (Stanford University (tobacco.stanford.edu)) |
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| The Grapefruit Diet—a.k.a. the Hollywood Diet—is born. The popular low-cal plan calls for eating grapefruit with every meal. (Getty Images) |
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| The Cabbage Soup Diet promises you can lose 10–15 pounds in a week by eating a limited diet including cabbage soup every day. (Corbis) |
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| Urban legend has it that opera singer Maria Callas dropped 65 pounds on the Tapeworm Diet, allegedly by swallowing a parasite-packed pill. (Getty Images) |
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| Weight Watchers is founded by Jean Nidetch, a self-described "overweight housewife obsessed with cookies." (Getty Images) |
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| The Sleeping Beauty Diet, which involves sedation, is rumored to have been tried by Elvis. (Getty Images) |
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| A Florida doctor creates the Cookie Diet, a plan where you eat cookies made with a blend of amino acids. Hollywood eats it up. (Getty Images) |
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| Slim-Fast—a shake for breakfast, a shake for lunch, then a sensible dinner—becomes a diet staple. (Getty Images) |
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| Herman Tarnower, MD, publishes "The Complete Scarsdale Medical Diet." Two years later he is shot by his girlfriend. (Getty Images) |
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| Dexatrim, a diet drug containing phenylpropanolamine (PPA), appears on drugstore shelves. Its formula changes after PPA is linked to an increased risk of stroke in 2000. (Getty Images) |
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| A popular appetite-suppressing candy called Ayds is taken off the market after the AIDS crisis hits. (Youtube.com) |
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| The aerobics craze steps into high gear when Jane Fonda launches her first exercise video, "Workout: Starring Jane Fonda." Her catch phrase: "No pain, no gain." (Getty Images) |
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| Jazzercise, founded in 1969 by professional dancer Judi Sheppard Missett, hits all 50 states. (Corbis) |
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| Harvey and Marilyn Diamond publish "Fit for Life," which prohibits complex carbs and protein from being eaten during the same meal. (Getty Images) |
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| In her memoir-slash-self-help book, "Elizabeth Takes Off," actress Elizabeth Taylor advises dieters to eat veggies and dip each day at 3 p.m. (Getty Images) |
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| Wearing a pair of size 10 Calvin Klein jeans, Oprah walks onto the set of her show, pulling a wagon full of fat to represent the 67 pounds she lost on a liquid diet. (Corbis) |
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| Americans go low-fat, eating foods like McDonald’s McLean Deluxe burger. (Getty Images) |
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| Robert C. Atkins, MD, publishes "Dr. Atkins' New Diet Revolution," a high-protein, low-carb plan. (Getty Images) |
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| The Guide to Nutrition Labeling and Education Act requires food companies to include nutritional info on nearly all packaging. (Getty Images) |
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| The Zone Diet, which calls for a specific ratio of carbs, fat, and protein at each meal, begins to attract celeb fans. (Corbis) |
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| Victoria Beckham starts the blink-and-it’s-gone baby weight trend following the birth of her first son, Brooklyn. (Corbis) |
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| Gwyneth Paltrow lends cred to the Macrobiotic Diet, a restrictive Japanese plan based on whole grains and veggies. (Getty Images) |
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| Renée Zellweger packs on nearly 30 pounds to play Bridget Jones. She quickly (and controversially) sheds the weight only to gain it back for the 2004 sequel. (Getty Images) |
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| Miami doctor Arthur Agatston, MD, adds fuel to the low-carb craze by publishing "The South Beach Diet," seen as a more moderate version of Atkins. (Getty Images) |
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| The FDA bans the sale of diet drugs and supplements containing ephedra after it's linked to heart attacks. (Corbis) |
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| "The Biggest Loser" makes its TV debut, turning weight loss into a reality show. (Getty Images) |
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| Beyonce admits to using the Master Cleanse, a concoction of hot water, lemon juice, maple syrup, and cayenne pepper, to shed 20 pounds for "Dreamgirls." (Getty Images) |
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| Alli hits the market. The nonprescription drug is taken with meals to keep your body from absorbing some of the food you eat. (Getty Images) |
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| Jennifer Hudson loses a jaw-dropping 80 pounds on Weight Watchers. (Getty Images) |
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| The HCG Diet, which combines a fertility drug with a strict 500- to 800-calorie-a-day regimen, invites interest—and criticism. (HCG Diet) |
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| Jessica Simpson loses 60 pounds of baby weight on Weight Watchers. (Getty Images) |
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