A Diet Without Dieting? Slim By Design Is All About 'Mindless Eating'

For every new miracle diet or magic pill promising you’ll get down to your body's true weight of 21 grams, there is -- appropriately -- an equal amount of healthy skepticism. Slim By Design is a new diet program that forgoes mysticism for practical results and plenty of science.

Slim By Design diet was developed by Brian Wansink, John Dyson Professor of Marketing and the Director of the Cornell Food and Brand Lab. Wansink is basically a food nerd who applies research to what and why we eat the things we do. Wansink served as Executive Director of the USDA’s Center for Nutrition Policy and Promotion from 2007 to 2009 and his research contributed to many little innovations that reduce overconsumption, such as the "100 calorie" packaging of snacks.

His Slim By Design diet is getting plenty of press with profiles of Wansink and his book featured on Slate, Fox News, Quartz, New York Magazine and the Boston Globe to name a few. Wansink's plan is simple, focus on specific locations where we can gain or lose weight, be it at work, home, school or your local grocery, and figure out the ways to change habits which can lead to a healthy lifestyle.

So accolades and titles aside, what does Wansink bring to the diet discussion? Well, he actually conducted studies and his research appears in peer-reviewed journals.

What We Talk About When We Talk About Research

Not all research is created equal but any sense of authority goes a long way to selling any product. Many commercials and products tout interesting statistics, impressive weight loss or other benefits based on countless studies. The 30-second clip is too busy trying to sell so the methodology and actual value of the research is pretty much ignored.

Take Garcinia cambogia, the "holy grail" of weight loss touted by Dr. Oz. While there are plenty of impressive claims regarding the fruit's ability, there are many studies that indicate Garcinia cambogia has little effect on weight loss. Other miracles, such as red palm oil, shrivel under the weight of peer-reviewed scrutiny.

Wansink has a long peer-reviewed resume, as seen on his Cornell profile. From the Journal of Pediatrics, Obesity and the New England Journal of Medicine, Wansink's research has appeared in very prestigious journals and the methods he suggest in Slim By Design have been tested in schools and towns. The other thing to consider is Wansink is not promising miracles, just small decisions that can lead to a reduction in calorie intake and improved weight loss.

As always, the biggest question to ask when it comes to changing your lifestyle will be "Is this right for me?" and the only person who can answer that for you is you. Oh, and your doctor. So seek advice from your doctor before beginning any diet or weight loss resolution.