Health Watch: Baby Food Diet
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- A diet rumored to be popular with some celebrities is catching on. It's supposed to be an easy way to lose weight fast. 3 On Your Side Health Reporter Stephanie Stahl finds out if it could work for you.
It's a diet that Gwyneth Paltrow and Reece Witherspoon have reportedly been on. Lady Gaga too. The celebrity slimming secret? Baby food.
"That's disgusting," said Phillippa Martin, of Philadelphia.
It might be disgusting to some, but the Baby Food Diet can work.
"It definitely sounds gross, and it took some getting use to," said Becca Riccardi, who says the diet worked for her. She lost eight pounds in three weeks, before her wedding.
"The first week, my body definitely needed to adjust, but I felt good and I felt healthy, and I was happy with the results," said Becca.
On the Baby Food Diet--created by a trainer to the celebrities--you can eat 14 jars a day, any type, and one real meal.
Each jar of baby food contains about 80 calories.
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"It's simply reducing somebody's total caloric intake," said Dr. David Sarwer, with Penn's Center for Weight and Eating Disorders. He says it's a fad diet that he wouldn't recommend, but that it can help people lose weight quickly.
"Eating small portion sizes throughout the day can be very helpful in people controlling their hunger," said Dr. Sarwer.
And baby food is low in fat and salt, and high in nutrition.
"I don't think baby food would be a good idea," said Elana Nola, of Bala Cynwyd.
But it was so successful for Becca that she did it again after her baby was born.
"You see the pounds coming off of you. It keeps you motivated to keep doing it," Becca. She says she continues to eat baby food as a snack to help keep her weight down.
Some doctors say eating large amount of pureed fruits and vegetables can be cleansing, helping the body get rid of toxins.
Reported by Stephanie Stahl, CBS 3
