By MELISSA WALKER

Staff Writer

The world has been invaded.

Dieting fads have taken over supermarkets, restaurants and people's conversations.

Dr. Mary Murimi, an assistant professor of nutrition and dietetics, said that dieting fads are growing more and more popular.

"People want quick fix diets that will cause drastic weight loss in a short period of time," Murimi said.

Several diets offer these "quick fixes."

Low-carb diets focus on eliminating or drastically decreasing carbohydrate intake.

According to http://www.lowcarbdiets.com, the body first looks to carbohydrates as a source of energy. Once the carbohydrates are used, the body then seeks out fat to burn for energy.

This is where the idea of weight loss occurs. If there are no carbohydrates to deplete, the body should ultimately turn to fat as its source of energy, proponents said. And that burning fat will cause weight loss.

The official South Beach Diet Web site, http://secure.agoramedia.com, said the South Beach Diet can be divided into three phases. The first phase lasts for two weeks. During these two weeks, bread, rice, potatoes, pasta, baked goods, fruit, alcohol and sweets are completely eliminated.

The first phase shares the idea behind low- carb diets: to rework the body's chemistry in such a way that it turns to fat, rather than carbs, to burn for energy.

After 14 days, certain carbohydrates are introduced back into the diet. Favorite foods containing carbohydrates are incorporated into meals, provided that portion-sizes are reasonable.

During the second phase, the dieter is still experiencing weight loss.

The third phase begins once ideal weight goal has been met.

Sugarbusters! is another diet, formed by three medical doctors and a Fortune 500 CEO.

It follows the same guidelines as the low- carb diets. Rather than carbohydrates being the culprit, however, sugar is to be feared as the reason for weight gain.

According to an article in the April 2004 Fitness Magazine entitled "4 Ways to Conquer Sugar Cravings," "Sugarbusters!" encourages choosing low-insulin-producing carbohydrates like high-fiber vegetables, whole grains, lentils, nuts and tomatoes.

Murimi sees the importance of insulin.

"Sugar releases into the bloodstream quickly. Insulin is released to counteract the sugar. The insulin is stored in the cell, and converts into fat," Murimi said.

Murimi said the fad diets are manipulating the body's chemistry in order to achieve weight loss.

Fad diets are not just physically harmful.

Murimi said that these diets are formed due to the extreme emphasis on body image in today's society. The unrealistic body images that are seen on television and in movies are what drives Americans to become obsessed with appearance, rather than health and nutrition.

Murimi also said that the minimizing of certain foods can lead to the refusal of these foods altogether.

Eventually this problem can evolve into eating disorders.

"Too many restrictions can lead to the possibility of concern," Murimi said.

Murimi does not see cutting carbs as the solution to weight loss.

"We are dealing with the wrong problem. Carbs are not evil," Murimi said.

Murimi suggests that Americans turn to the food pyramid as a way to lose weight in a healthy way.

Murimi said the key to lose weight is to follow the food pyramid and exercise regularly. The food pyramid refills the body's nutritional needs, in proportion to how much the body needs.

"Slow weight loss is more substantial. It is healthy to lose one to two pounds a week. Easy-to-lose weight is also easy to gain back," Murimi said.

Dr. James E. Hemidal, an associate professor of health and exercise sciences, agrees that quick weight loss is not the way to go.

"These diets are basically the same. The bottom line is the weight loss is not long term."

Hemidal said that there is no literature that supports diet weight loss as being long term.

"These people are losing a significant amount of weight. Long-term weight loss means keeping the weight off for at least one year."

Yet Hemidal said he does believe there can be healthy weight loss.

Hemidal said that exercise, behavior modification, such as a diary tracking food intake, and exercise and eating closer to a vegetarian diet is the way to lose weight.

Kimmie Everett, a junior kinesiology and health promotion major, agrees with Hemidal.

"Balance is what it is all about. The only way you are going to lose weight is if you burn more calories than you consume."

Everett plans on sticking with the non-trendy way of losing weight.

"There are so many diets out there. It is just everyone trying to make money."