is likely to result in the loss of mostly water weight.
There is a possible psychological benefit associated with
this kind of rapid weight loss, but this is may be undone
if the weight returns shortly after the diet is over.
Precautions
The Six Day Body Makeover requires a diet that
often is less than 1,200 calories per day. This calorie
level is the minimum daily amount recommended by
the American Heart Association for most people.
Dieters should consult a medical practitioner to be
sure that this diet and exercise regimen is safe for
their body. Requirements of calories, fat, and
nutrients can differ significantly from person to per-
son, depending on gender, age, weight, and many
other factors such as the presence of diseases or dis-
orders. Pregnant orbreastfeedingwomen should be
especially cautious, because deficiencies ofvitaminsor
mineralscan have a significant negative impact on a
baby. Exercising too strenuously can cause injury, and
exercise should be started gradually to see how the
body responds. Because the Six Day Body Makeover
does not allow dieters to consume dairy products, a
calciumsupplement may be helpful in preventing cal-
cium deficiency.
Risks
With any diet or exercise plan there are some risks.
It is often difficult to get enough of all necessary
vitamins and minerals when eating a limited diet. Any-
one beginning a diet may want to consult his or her
physician about whether taking a vitamin or supple-
ment can help reduce this risk.
Injuries can occur during exercise, such as strained
or sprained muscles, and proper warm up and cool
down procedures should be followed to minimize
these risks. Dieters should begin exercising at a light
or moderate intensity, and increase the intensity of
their workout slowly over weeks or months to mini-
mize the risk of serious injury. This gradual build-up
of exercising is not possible with the Six Day Make-
over. The abdominal breathing exercise does carry
possible hyperventilation risk and dieters should con-
sult a physician before beginning any exercise regime.
Research and general acceptance
The Six Day Body Makeover has not been the
subject of any significant scholarly research. Thurmond
provides no scientific evidence for the ideas behind his
diet. The Six Day Body Makeover requires that many
dieters eat fewer than 1200 calories a day, which is a
level of calorie intake considered unhealthy for most
people, especially those who are spending a significant
amount of time exercising. There is no significant sci-
entific evidence to support the theory that frequent
eating of low-calorie meals will speed up metabolism.
For most people, moderately limiting caloric intake,
eating a diet low infatsand carbohydrates and high in
vegetable and plant products is generally accepted as a
healthy diet. Most experts believe that a diet of this
length cannot cause any significant loss of fat but
depends mostly on dieters losing water weight.
As of 2007, the United States Centers for Disease
Control recommended a minimum of 30 minutes a day
of light to moderate exercise for healthy adults. Follow-
ing Thurmond’s exercise program would meet, and in
most cases exceed, this minimum recommendation.
However, most fitness experts recommend strength
training exercise in addition to aerobic exercise for
maintaining proper fitness. No evidence has shown
‘‘abdominal breathing’’ to be a safe or effective exercise.
Another strict guideline for the Six Day Body
Makeover involves drinking a lot of water. Dieters
are told to drink 12 8-ounce glasses of water every
day during this diet. This requirement generally fol-
lows guidelines for good hydration.Resources
BOOKS
Bijlefeld, Marjolijn and Sharon K. Zoumbaris.Encyclopedia
of Diet Fads. Westport, CT: Greenwood Press, 2003.
Icon Health Publications.Fad Diets: A Bibliography, Medi-
cal Dictionary, and Annotated Research Guide toQUESTIONS TO ASK THE
DOCTOR Can I maintain proper health on a diet with
fewer than 1200 calories per day?
Is this diet the best diet to meet my goals?
At what level of intensity is it appropriate for me
to begin exercising?
Does diet or exercise pose any special risk for me
that I should be aware of?
Would a multivitamin or other dietary
supplement be appropriate for me if I were to
begin this diet?
Is this diet appropriate for my entire family?
Is it safe for me to follow this diet over a longer
period of time than six days?
Are there any signs or symptoms that might
indicate a problem while on this diet?Six day body makeover