Junk Food: The New Weight Loss Diet?

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While the article is true, you can eat junk food in moderation and still lose weight, if you JUST eat junk food, your body can't function properly, and you'd constantly feel tired, get headaches, and things of that nature. Thats why he took the multi-vitamin, and drank the milk, they pretty much made up what he lived off of. The calories he used to exercise, yes, but the nutrients are what gave him the ablilty to think streight.
I'm not saying I disagree with the article, because it's true. All i'm saying is that there's a simple misconception in there.

Highschool Freshman of GA 6:47PM October 21, 2010

I'm a college student studying nutrition to become a dietician and I think this article is great!!! People don't realize that its not completely WHAT you it, its HOW MUCH. Everything is good in moderation! :)
-Jeanette

Jeanette of IL 10:53AM October 21, 2010

This is amazing. I never knew that you could junk food and still lose weight, you just hae to limit the amount of junk food you eat. And get exercise of course, but I do that already. This should really help me lose weight. If we just
eat less of the same stuff, then we can lose weight, we just have to burn more calories then we make.

HighSchoolStudent of TX 3:58PM October 20, 2010

HOW DOES THIS HAPPEN?!?!?! I thought that eating bad foods is...ya kno.. bad? Can someone be on a fruit and veggie diet and still lose weight? Or will it just backfire?

Ms.Williams of PA 6:47PM October 19, 2010

Dr. Z,
I definitely agree with you there! My anger gets fueled by misconceptions as well. Maybe the only difference is that you are angered more by how the experiment is advertised, whereas I'm a little more annoyed by reader misunderstanding. In any case, I agree with you, we should all dig a little deeper and be more clear (and not eat twinkies for breakfast, at least not every day... :).

GradStudent of IN 12:57PM October 12, 2010

Grad Student, you might be right. I probably did somewhere in the whole article. The problem is that people, most people, do take things at face value and that is where my anger gets fueled.

Dr Zhivago of MT 12:22PM October 12, 2010

Dr. Shivago,
I think the whole point of the experiment is that food in and of itself is not the problem, and that strategies aimed at labeling certain food as "bad" either literally or by taxing it will never solve the problem. You're absolutely right, a permanent junk food diet is a horrible idea, and I think Mr. Haub would be the first to agree with you on that front - his credentials attest to the fact that he understands that fact more than you or I do.To interpret the experiment at face value as an endorsement for an unhealthful diet is, to be frank, lazy, and
exactly what he wants his students to avoid.

GradStudent of IN 10:50AM October 12, 2010

Point made. You can eat junk food and still lose weight. Yes it's all about the calories. If you eat more than you burn you will gain weigh. It's very simple math.
I practice and teach the 80%/20% Rule. Eighty percent of the time eat healthy foods. Twenty percent of the time eat whatever but if you can substitute something healthy like a homemade frozen smoothie where you can use healthy ingredients versus ice cream. It's a much better and healthier choice AND you're still getting your dessert.
You can read more and find some good delicious healthy recipes at http://www.hangingoutforthehealthofit.com

Dr. Carlos M. Gonzalez of TX 10:32AM October 12, 2010

i just didn't imagined that this article was really about children really getting huge because they eat a lot and they don't even watch out. hey you guys better watch out for what is eating.

bgt of MD 8:58PM October 08, 2010

Are you serious? Are you serious, serious? Calories in Calories out is right, but the amount of junk you are adding to your body that does not go away with burning calories is what should worry you, not the fact that you lost weight. You eat 3 twinkies for breakfast, you got no benefits out of that. You ate junk, that is why is called junk food, no benefial anything for your body and mind. This article only fuels kids ignorance into telling their ignorant parents that its OK to eat junk food if I run to the bus stop everyday. Maybe that professor should eat junk for 2 years in a row and he will keep that nice weight in a coffin from all the poisons in his body. Junk food, once in a while, like once a month is OK. As a DIET, only if you hate yourself.

Dr. Shivago 3:10PM October 08, 2010