Without doubt, America has a weight problem. An estimated 17% of all children and adolescents are overweight, and their parents are doing even worse: nearly one third of American adults aren’t just overweight, but obese (Source: American Heart Association).

Disturbing statistics show a steady climb in obesity from the early 1960s, when the obesity rate stood at just 10 – 15% of the population, to the more than 30% of the population today. In other words, the percentage of obese Americans has tripled in the last forty years. Remember: these numbers just reflect obese Americans and do not include the “merely” overweight.

Hard Decisions About Dieting

Given the plague of weight problems facing American children and adults, it should be no surprise that there are more diet fads today than ever before. From Jenny Craig to Jared the Subway guy, it seems that everyone is selling their own method of losing weight. As a result, Americans have been inundated in the last decade with conflicting dieting and nutrition information, which can be very hard to sort out.

What follows is a closer look at three diets that have garnered attention in recent years: The Atkins Diet, the South Beach diet, and the Mediterranean diet. By examining the pros and cons of each dieting theory, and especially the science (or lack thereof) behind each theory, choosing the right diet for your body and your lifestyle will be easier than ever before.

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