Slimming Down the Strange Way: Diet Trends That Make You Say "What?!"

The quest to lose extra pounds has taken many down some really unusual roads. While most folks stick with classic methods like balanced eating and regular exercise, others venture into strange and sometimes downright bizarre techniques hoping for quicker results. Some of these methods come from old folk practices or are rooted in pseudoscience, while surprisingly, some even attract the interest of scientific researchers. Whether they work or not, these weight loss trends are fascinating and often a little hard to believe. Let’s take a look at some of the weirdest weight loss tactics making headlines around the world today.

1.    Chewing Ice Cubes  

The idea here is pretty straightforward: your body uses calories trying to warm up the ice you chew. The reasoning? Each time you consume something icy, your body works harder to bring it up to your normal temperature, supposedly burning a few extra calories. While the actual calorie burn is tiny—maybe 5–10 calories per glass of ice—some believe that doing this throughout the day can add up. It’s harmless and easy to try, but relying solely on chewing ice won’t get you anywhere.

Science Behind it: Your body does burn calories to maintain its core temperature (through thermogenesis), but the amount burned from chewing ice is so small that it really doesn’t make a difference.

2.    Sleeping Beauty Diet 

This quirky idea is based on the belief that it’s impossible to eat while you’re asleep. Some people interpret this literally—so they try to sleep as much as possible, thinking it’ll cut down on food intake and speed up weight loss. This often involves taking naps during the day or sleeping through hunger at night.

Science Behind it: Sleep does affect your metabolism and hunger hormones like ghrelin and leptin, but sleeping more won’t necessarily boost fat burn—in fact, too much sleep can slow your metabolism and affect your health.

3.    Eating in Blue Plates

This trend is all about psychology: using blue plates for meals. It’s believed that blue is an unappetizing color because it’s rare in natural foods, so serving your food on blue plates might make you feel less hungry without realizing it.

Science Behind it: While research is limited, color psychology suggests that warm colors like red and yellow stimulate appetite, whereas cooler colors like blue may help you eat less.

4.    Cotton Ball Diet

A dangerous shortcut–Some try to fill up by soaking cotton balls in juice or smoothies and swallowing them whole, thinking it will trick their stomach into feeling full without adding calories. The idea is to cut down food intake this way.

Science Behind it: There’s no scientific backing—swallowing non-food items like cotton can cause serious health issues, including blockages and injuries.

Warning: This method is extremely dangerous and should never be attempted.

5.    Wearing Cold Vests

This involves wearing vests lined with ice packs to expose the body to cold, encouraging it to generate heat and burn calories—a form of cold exposure therapy.

Science Behind it: Brown fat, a type of fat in the body, activates in cold environments to generate heat and burn calories. Some research supports cold exposure as a mild fat-burning method, but the effects are modest.

6.    Sniffing Scents Like Peppermint or Green Apple

Certain scents—like peppermint, green apple, or banana—are sometimes sniffed throughout the day to reduce appetite. The idea is that strong food-like smells can trick the brain into feeling satisfied.

Science Behind it: Limited studies suggest some aromas may influence hunger cues; peppermint, in particular, has shown mild appetite suppression in lab tests.

7.    Virtual Reality Workouts  

Instead of traditional gym routines, some people use VR to engage in immersive experiences like dance parties or adventure games. These sessions feel less like exercise and more like playing a game, which can make sticking to a routine easier.

Science Behind it: VR workouts can help burn calories—they’re not as intense as high-impact workouts but definitely better than doing nothing. Plus, they’re more engaging, which boosts consistency.

8.    Tongue Patches

This controversial method involves attaching a small mesh patch to the tongue so eating solid foods becomes painful. The goal is to encourage liquids-only diets, drastically reducing calorie intake.

Science Behind it: There’s no scientific validation—this could cause infections, speech problems, and nutritional deficiencies.

Warning: This practice is invasive and highly unsafe.

9.    Eating in Front of a Mirror

Some believe that watching yourself eat can boost self-awareness about food choices and portion sizes, leading to better control and less overeating.

Science Behind it: Self-monitoring studies suggest that increased awareness while eating—like seeing yourself—can promote healthier habits.

10.The Baby Food Diet for Adults

Some people opt for replacing regular meals with jars of baby food, aiming to control portions and calorie intake. These foods are usually nutritious, low in fat, and mostly pureed fruits and vegetables.

Science Behind it: Baby foods lack certain nutrients, like enough protein and fiber needed for adult health. While it may reduce calories temporarily, it’s not a sustainable long-term solution.

The weight loss world is full of strange ideas—some slightly effective, many questionable, and a few outright dangerous. While curiosity can lead people to experiment, it’s essential to approach these trends with caution and critical thinking. Not every method has solid science behind it, and what works for one person might not be safe or effective for another.

Disclaimer: This article aims to share unusual information for awareness and curiosity. It does not endorse or criticize any person, brand, or specific program. Always consult with a qualified healthcare professional before making any changes to your health or diet routines.

Image Credit: The image has been generated using Gemini AI for better depiction and resonance with this content.

References

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4.     ABC News. (2013, November 21). Dangerous ‘cotton ball diet’ trend alarms doctors. ABC News. https://abcnews.go.com/Health/diet-dangerous-cotton-ball-diet/story?id=20950045

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6.     Hirsch, A. R., & Gomez, C. (2007). Effects of odor on appetite and food intake. Smell & Taste Treatment and Research Foundation. https://www.webmd.com/diet/news/20071210/sniffing-mint-may-cut-calories

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8.     Healthline Editorial Team. (2013, July 11). Tongue patch for weight loss: What to know. Healthline. https://www.healthline.com/health-news/new-tongue-patch-diet-has-doctors-worried-071113

9.     Wansink, B., & van Ittersum, K. (2012). Watching yourself eat: Mirror, mirror on the wall. Journal of Consumer Research, 39(2), 261–273. https://doi.org/10.1086/662612

10.  NHS. (2020). Is the baby food diet safe? National Health Service (UK). https://www.nhs.uk/common-health-questions/food-and-diet/are-baby-food-diets-safe/