Fad diets come and go, but the idea of dieting itself has been around for centuries. From President Taft to Victoria Beckham, and the Grapefruit Diet to Slim-Fast, here's a look at some of the most famous (and infamous) moments in dieting history. 1820: Lord Byron popularizes the Vinegar and Water Diet, which entails drinking water mixed with apple cider vinegar. 1903: President William Howard Taft pledges to slim down after getting stuck in the White House bathtub. 1925: The Lucky Strike cigarette brand launches the "Reach for a Lucky instead of a sweet" campaign, capitalizing on nicotine's appetite-suppressing superpowers. 1930s: The Grapefruit Diet -- a.k.a. the Hollywood Diet -- is born. The popular low-cal plan calls for eating grapefruit with every meal. 1950s: The Cabbage Soup Diet promises you can lose 10 to 15 pounds in a week by eating a limited diet including cabbage soup every day. Mid-1950s: Urban legend has it that opera singer Maria Callas dropped 65 pounds on the Tapeworm Diet, allegedly by swallowing a parasite-packed pill. 1963: Weight Watchers is founded by Jean Nidetch, a self-described "overweight housewife obsessed with cookies." 1970:The Sleeping Beauty Diet, which involves sedation, is rumored to have been tried by Elvis. 1975: A Florida doctor creates the Cookie Diet, a plan where you eat cookies made with a blend of amino acids. Hollywood eats it up. 1977: Slim-Fast -- a shake for breakfast, a shake for lunch, then a sensible dinner -- becomes a diet staple. 1978: Dr. Herman Tarnower publishes "The Complete Scarsdale Medical Diet." Two years later he is shot by his girlfriend. 1979: Dexatrim, a diet drug containing phenylpropanolamine (PPA), appears on drugstore shelves. Its formula changes after PPA is linked to an increased risk of stroke in 2000. 1980s: A popular appetite-suppressing candy called Ayds is taken off the market after the AIDS crisis hits. 1982: The aerobics craze steps into high gear when Jane Fonda launches her first exercise video, "Workout: Starring Jane Fonda." Her catch phrase: "No pain, no gain." 1983: Jazzercise, founded in 1969 by professional dancer Judi Sheppard Missett, hits all 50 states. 1985: Harvey and Marilyn Diamond publish "Fit for Life," which prohibits complex carbs and protein from being eaten during the same meal. 1987: In her memoir-slash-self-help book, "Elizabeth Takes Off," actress Elizabeth Taylor advises dieters to eat veggies and dip each day at 3 p.m. 1988: Wearing a pair of size 10 Calvin Klein jeans, Oprah walks onto the set of her show, pulling a wagon full of fat to represent the 67 pounds she lost on a liquid diet. 1991: Americans go low-fat, eating foods like McDonald's McLean Deluxe burger. 1992: Dr. Robert C. Atkins publishes "Dr. Atkins' New Diet Revolution," a high-protein, low-carb plan. 1994: The Guide to Nutrition Labeling and Education Act requires food companies to include nutritional info on nearly all packaging. 1995: The Zone Diet, which calls for a specific ratio of carbs, fat, and protein at each meal, begins to attract celeb fans. 1999: Victoria Beckham starts the blink-and-it's-gone baby weight trend following the birth of her first son, Brooklyn. 2000: Gwyneth Paltrow lends cred to the Macrobiotic Diet, a restrictive Japanese plan based on whole grains and veggies. 2001: Renée Zellweger packs on nearly 30 pounds to play Bridget Jones. She quickly (and controversially) sheds the weight only to gain it back for the 2004 sequel. 2003: Miami's Dr. Arthur Agatston adds fuel to the low-carb craze by publishing "The South Beach Diet," seen as a more moderate version of Atkins. 2004: The FDA bans the sale of diet drugs and supplements containing ephedra after it's linked to heart attacks. 2004: "The Biggest Loser" makes its TV debut, turning weight loss into a reality show. 2006: Beyonce admits to using the Master Cleanse, a concoction of hot water, lemon juice, maple syrup, and cayenne pepper, to shed 20 pounds for "Dreamgirls." 2007: Alli hits the market. The nonprescription drug is taken with meals to keep your body from absorbing some of the food you eat. 2010: Jennifer Hudson loses a jaw-dropping 80 pounds on Weight Watchers. 2011: The HCG Diet, which combines a fertility drug with a strict 500- to 800-calorie-a-day regimen, invites interest -- and criticism. 2012: Jessica Simpson loses 60 pounds of baby weight on Weight Watchers. Source
