Health Education Lesson Plan

Descriptive Information
Skill Emphasis (NHES): Advocacy/Analyzing Influences
Grade Level: Middle School
Content Area of Health: Nutrition
Content Descriptor & Sub-Descriptor(s):
1. Healthful Eating
1.1 Benefits of healthful eating (short-term and long-term
benefits and risks)
1.3 Benefits of consuming more water, fruits, vegetables, grains, and
calcium rich
foods
1.6 How to assess personal nutritional needs, preferences, and
practices
1.7 Strategies for overcoming barriers to healthful eating
2. Influence on Food Choices
3.5 How marketing, packaging, and advertising influence food choices
Title of Lesson:

Fad Diets: Do They Really Work?

PA Standard (Health & PE): 10.2.9 B. Analyze the relationship between healthrelated information and adolescent consumer choices- weight control products
Curricular Connections:

Public Speaking, English, Technology

Adolescent Risk Behavior (if applicable): Unhealthy dietary behaviors

Behavioral Objective(s)
Cognitive: After the lesson, students will be able to describe why fad diets are
harmful to the body.
Cognitive: After watching three fad diet commercials, students will be able to
explain the harmful side effects that most fad diets contain.
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Affective: During a group activity, the students will be able to share their ideas to
create their own fad diet poster.
Skill (Analyzing Influences): During the learning activity, students will be able to
analyze internal and external factors that influence people to start fad diets and
take supplements.
Brief Outline of Todays Lesson
1. Introduction to the lesson
2. Bell Ringer: Do you know the real fad diets from the fake ones?
3. Content and Instructional Strategies
What is a fad diet?
Effect of a fad diet
How to spot a fad diet
4. In-Class Activity: Create your own Fad Diet Poster
5. Final Thoughts/Conclusion to the Lesson
6. Classroom Management & Materials
Students will be in their desk formation while content is being taught.
Students will be in small groups to research and work on their fad diet
advertisements.
Expanded Outline of Todays Lesson
1.Introduction to the Lesson (Set Induction):
Who in here has ever been watching television and then all of sudden a commercial
comes on about a brand new diet or pill that makes you lose a crazy amount of
weight, fast? Who knows someone that is always trying to diet and trying whats
new on the market? For those of you that raised your hand, you may not know that
the majority of the time, those types of diets or pills do not work and they sound
too good to be true. Companies use celebrities and famous athletes to promote
these diets and supplements so people will be persuaded to buy their product.
These types of diets are called Fad Diets and they can be harmful to your body.
It is important that you become knowledgeable of these types of diets so you do
not cause harm to your body.
2.Bell Ringer (Instant Activity):
Each student will receive a worksheet that has a list of different fad diets on it.
There will be real fad diets and fake ones listed. Students will circle which ones
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they believe are the real ones based off of what they have seen or heard from the
media or other sources. Once the students are finished, they will be informed of
which ones were the real fad diets.
3.Content & Instructional Strategies:
Overview of fad diets
a. What is a fad diet?
Diets you see advertised on T.V.
A weight loss plan or aid that promises dramatic results
Usually not healthy, only provide short-term results. Some
diets are dangerous to your health
Examples of fad diets are
i. Atkins Diet- a low carbohydrate diet
ii. The Zone- 3 meals and 2 snacks per day. A balance
between 30% protein, 40% carbs fruits/vegetables, and
30% good fats. Women get 1200 calories per day and
men get 1500 calories
iii. Slim Fast- replacing 2 meals with a SlimFast smoothie
that is high in protein.
iv. Baby food diet- replace 1 to 2 meals a day with baby food
v. Cabbage Soup Diet
Day 1-Fruits (except bananas) and cabbage soup
Day 2- Vegetables and cabbage soup
Day 3- Soup, fruits, and vegetables
Day 4- Up to 8 bananas, skim milk, and cabbage
soup
Day 5- Beef and tomatoes, water, cabbage soup
Day 6- Beef and potatoes, cabbage soup
Day 7- Brown rice, fruit juice, vegetables, cabbage
soup
Effects of fad diets
i. Short-term weight loss
Water weight mostly
ii. Feel dehydrated
iii. Exhaustion
iv. Digestive Issues
v. Malnutrition
vi. Increase risk of chronic disease
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vii. Reduce athletic performance

viii. Immediately gain weight
Students will watch advertisements for fad diets and be asked
what commonalities they see. They will fill out the
corresponding worksheet with each video.
1. Hollywood 48 Hour Miracle Diet
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yh_eGw4zuZQ
2. Sense https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jy2sHt4K2rk

3. Jenny Craig https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mrkd9Vde57k

How to spot a fad diet

i. Claim to help lose weight extremely quickly
ii. Promise to lose weight without exercise/eating healthy
iii. Bases claims on before/after photos
iv. Has interviews with clients or experts in weight loss,
science, or nutrition
v. Dont encourage balanced nutrition
vi. Requires you to pay for seminars, pills, prepackaged
meals, etc.
vii. Sells a companys product
viii. Seems too good to be true

4. In-Class Learning Activity: Create Your Own Fad Diet Advertisement

Students will be asked to tell the truth about their given diet. They
will be showed an in-class example.
Students will be put into groups of 3-4.

Each group will receive a poster board and colored markers.

Each group will receive a fad diet. They will research their diet on
their chromebooks and have approximately 15-20 minutes to create
their own fad diet advertisement. Students will be given a handout
that will help them find information to make their poster.

Raw food diet:

 http://www.livestrong.com/article/411904-negative-side-effects-ofa-raw-foods-diet/
http://www.webmd.com/diet/a-z/raw-foods-diet

Cabbage Soup Diet

http://health.howstuffworks.com/wellness/dietfitness/diets/cabbage-soup-diet2.htm
http://www.leanhigh.com/weight-loss/diet-reviews/what-resultscan-realistically-be-expected-on-the-cabbage-soup-diet
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o

Five Bite Diet

http://healthyeating.sfgate.com/five-bite-diet-work-9698.html
http://www.livestrong.com/article/509512-the-5-bite-diet/
Lemonade Diet
http://www.webmd.com/diet/a-z/lemonade-master-cleanse-diet
Grapefruit Diet
http://www.diet.com/g/grapefruit-diet
http://www.webmd.com/drugs/2/drug-9719/grapefruit-dietoral/details/list-sideeffects
Tapework Diet
http://www.healthyweightforum.org/eng/diets/tapeworm-diet/
Raw food diet:
http://www.livestrong.com/article/411904-negative-side-effects-of-araw-foods-diet/
http://www.webmd.com/diet/a-z/raw-foods-diet
Cabbage Soup Diet
http://health.howstuffworks.com/wellness/diet-fitness/diets/cabbagesoup-diet2.htm
http://www.leanhigh.com/weight-loss/diet-reviews/what-results-canrealistically-be-expected-on-the-cabbage-soup-diet

Allow 5 minutes at the end for each group to share.

Each poster should include:
o
o
o
o
o

A drawing that represents their product

Short description of the diet
3 ways the diet helps to lose weight
A slogan that is catchy so consumers will remember it
3 side-effects that are associated with the
diet/supplement
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5. In-Class Learning Activity Assessment-Description & Criteria

An analytical rubric will be used to grade the in-class learning activity
on content (Core Concepts), health skills (Advocacy), and other
specific criteria.
The Core Concepts criteria on the analytical rubric below will be used
to assess the content portion of the activity.
The Advocacy criteria on the analytical rubric below will be used to
assess the health skill portion of the activity.
Students must have a description of their diet, a picture that
represents it, 3 ways the diet helps to lose weight, a catchy slogan,
and 3 side-effects of the diet.
Create Your Own Fad Diet Advertisement will be scored using the
following core concepts, skill cues, and additional criteria from the
Analytical Rubric.
6. Final Thoughts/Conclusion to the Lesson
Checking for Understanding (Verbal)
o Why is it important to stay away from fad diets and
supplements?
o What are some alternatives to using fad diets/supplements?
o Why is it important to eat a healthy and balanced diet?
Now that you have learned all about different fad diets and supplements, it is
important to not be persuaded by the media or other factors trying to influence
you to use their product. If you know of someone who is trying to lose weight and is
considering starting a new diet, inform them on the health risks that can be
associated with it.
7. Classroom Management & Materials
Classroom Materials
o Handouts/Worksheets: Do you know the real fad diets
from the fake ones?, Direction worksheet for Create
Your Own Fad Diet Advertisement, Analytical Rubric
o Other Materials: PowerPoint, Commercials, Students
chrome books, example of our poster, posters, colored
markers, pencils
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 Classroom Management
o Bell ringer: Traditional Seating
o Content/instructional strategies: Traditional seating
o For In-Class Learning Activity: Students will be seated with
their group in a circle.
Content References
FamilyDoctor.Org, (December, 2015). Nutrition for Weight Loss: What You Need
to Know About Fad Diets.American Academy of Family Physicians. Retreived from
http://familydoctor.org/familydoctor/en/prevention-wellness/foodnutrition/weight-loss/nutrition-for-weight-loss-what-you-need-to-knowabout-fad-diets.html
(September 11, 2015). Fad Diets: Drawbacks & Dangers. Remedy Health Media.
Retrieved from http://www.healthcommunities.com/diets-eating-plans/faddiets-health-risks.shtml
Nimativ, Y. (August 19, 2009). Hollywood 48 Hour Miracle Diet Commercial.
Retrieved from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yh_eGw4zuZQ
Lose-weight. (December 17, 2013). Sense Weight Loss System Commericial.
Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jy2sHt4K2rk
Gee, J. (Februaru 7, 2015). Jenny Craig Commercial featuring Kirstie Alley-2015.
Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mrkd9Vde57k

Activity Reference(s)
Belczyk, Evan. Smith, Jen. (November 10, 2015) Create Your Own Fad Diet
Advertisement.

Appendices

Name_______________________
Date________

Do You Know Real Fad Diets From Fake Ones?

Directions: Circle the name of the fad diets that you believe are real

South Beach Diet

Atkins Diet

Pizza Diet

Chipotle Diet

Paleo Diet

Raw Food Diet

Peanut Butter-System

Weight Watchers

Nutri-System

Baby Food Diet

Tapeworm Diet

Pancakes and Waffles Diet

Cabbage Soup Diet

The Cookie Diet

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Name_______________________
Date________

Create Your Own Fad Diet Advertisement

Directions: Your group will be assigned a fad diet that you are going to make a
truthful advertisement for. There are 2 parts to this assignment.
Part number 1: Fill out the following questions by researching your specific diet
using your chromebook and the following links for your specific diet.
Raw food diet:
http://www.livestrong.com/article/411904-negative-side-effects-of-a-raw-foodsdiet/
http://www.webmd.com/diet/a-z/raw-foods-diet
Cabbage Soup Diet
http://health.howstuffworks.com/wellness/diet-fitness/diets/cabbage-soupdiet2.htm
http://www.leanhigh.com/weight-loss/diet-reviews/what-results-canrealistically-be-expected-on-the-cabbage-soup-diet
Five Bite Diet
http://healthyeating.sfgate.com/five-bite-diet-work-9698.html
http://www.livestrong.com/article/509512-the-5-bite-diet/
Lemonade Diet
http://www.webmd.com/diet/a-z/lemonade-master-cleanse-diet
Grapefruit Diet
http://www.diet.com/g/grapefruit-diet
http://www.webmd.com/drugs/2/drug-9719/grapefruit-diet-oral/details/listsideeffects
Tapework Diet
http://www.healthyweightforum.org/eng/diets/tapeworm-diet/

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Name of your diet: ______________________________________

What do you eat on this diet and what is the eating schedule?
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________

How does the diet work to help lose weight?

__________________________________________________________________

What are some side-effects from using this diet?

__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________

Part 2: Your group will create a poster advertisement for your given fad diets.
The poster must have
1.
2.
3.
4.

A drawing that represents your diet

A short description of your diet
3 ways the diet helps the body lose weight
A catchy slogan to help consumers
remember it
5. 3 side-effects that are associated with the
diet/supplement

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Analytical Rubric for the In-Class Learning Activity Create Your Own Fad Diet Advertisement
Parameter

Content (Core
Concepts)

The response is
complex,
accurate,
comprehensive,
showing breadth
& depth of
information;
relationships are
described and
conclusions
drawn.

Advocacy
(NHES/Skill)

The response
shows evidence
of the ability to
apply advocacy
skills; the
response is
complete and
shows proficiency
in the skill.

Poster has a
colored
picture/description
of diet

The poster has a

picture and a
complete
description of the
diet

How the diet loses

weight

The poster lists 3

ways the diet
helps the user to
lose weight.

Catchy slogan

Slogan is creative
and unique

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0-1

The response
identifies
relationships
between 2 or
more health
concepts; there
is some
breadth of
information,
although there
may be minor
inaccuracies
The response
shows
evidence of the
ability to apply
advocacy skills;
the response is
mostly
complete but
may not be fully
proficient.
The poster has
an
uncompleted
description of
the fad diet or
no color in the
picture.
The poster lists
2 ways the diet
helps the user
to lose weight.

The response
shows some
accurate
information
about the
relationships
between health
concepts, but
the response is
incomplete and
there are some
inaccuracies.
The response
shows some
evidence of the
ability to apply
advocacy skills;
the response
may have
inaccuracies or
be incomplete.

The response
addresses the
assigned task
but provides
little or no
accurate
information
about the
relationships
between health
concepts.

The poster only

has a
description or
only has a
poster.

The poster
does not have
a picture or a
description.

The poster lists

1 way the diet
helps the user
to lose weight.

Slogan is
unique,
creativity could
be improved

Both areas
could be
improved

The poster
does not list
ways that the
diet helps to
lose weight.
No slogan

The response
shows little or
no evidence of
the ability to
apply advocacy
skills.

Side effects of diet

3 side effects are

given

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2 side effects
are given

1 side effect is
given

No side effects
are given