crash diet

[ krash dahy-it ]

noun

1. a severe limitation of food intake or food selection intended to help someone lose a lot of weight very quickly:

   A crash diet that completely eliminates some food groups is likely to do more harm than good—and unlikely to result in realistic weight loss.

verb (used without object)

1. to severely limit one’s food intake or food selection in order to lose a lot of weight very quickly:

   It’s better to lose weight slowly and keep it off than to crash diet and gain it all back.

Word History and Origins

Origin of crash diet¹

First recorded in 1955–60

Example Sentences

Presley went on a crash diet, aided by injections of urine from a pregnant woman, in which he was limited to 500 calories a day of dried food.

From Los Angeles Times

Falling into a crash diet was really easy.

From Salon

Falling into a crash diet was really easy.

From Salon

Her frame is smaller and straighter than mine, genetics I can't achieve through a crash diet.

From Salon

It wasn't about trying to lose weight or kick off another crash diet.

From Salon