Cycles of attention to fad diets and internet search trends by Google trends

Abstract This work aimed at identifying, describing and analyzing news content associated with Google search cycles linked to eight types of diet: ketogenic; moon; protein; soup; detox; points; paleo; and Dukan. They were selected because they were pointed out by Google Trends® (GT) as the most often associated with the term “diet”. The content of sites linked to the highest search peaks was pointed out by Google News®. The volume of search attempts for diets was estimated by the GT with region filters (Brazil) and theme (Health) considering the period from 01/01/2012 to 01/01/2017. Results: hits portray ephemeral cycles, with hundreds of peaks and declining interest in the eight fad diets. The emphasis is on guidelines for quick weight loss in favor of optimal health as a proxy for an esthetic ideal. The scale of the risks associated with the more restrictive diets is often quoted and validated by expert information. The exposure and influence of the opinion of celebrities reporting their dietary experiences stand out. Contrary to the ideal of moderation, variety, and balance, fad diets portray the pressure for food self-control as a resource for building an idealized body typified by celebrity images.

摘要 本研究旨在识别、描述并分析与8类饮食相关的谷歌搜索周期关联的新闻内容，这8类饮食分别为：生酮饮食（ketogenic）、月光饮食（moon）、高蛋白饮食（protein）、汤饮饮食（soup）、排毒饮食（detox）、积分制饮食（points）、原始人饮食法（paleo）以及杜坎饮食法（Dukan）。此类饮食被选中的原因在于，谷歌趋势（Google Trends®）将其列为与“diet”一词关联最为频繁的搜索主题。与最高搜索峰值相关的网站内容，则由谷歌新闻（Google News®）筛选提供。饮食相关搜索的尝试量，通过谷歌趋势（Google Trends®）结合地区（巴西）与主题（健康）的筛选条件进行估算，统计时段为2012年1月1日至2017年1月1日。

研究结果显示，相关搜索热度呈现昙花一现的周期特征，8类流行饮食的搜索峰值多达数百次，公众关注度整体呈下降趋势。研究重点聚焦于以快速减重为导向的饮食指南，这类指南将优化健康状况作为实现审美理想的替代途径。限制更为严苛的饮食所伴随的风险规模，常被引用并通过专家资讯得到验证。此外，分享自身饮食体验的名人观点所带来的曝光度与影响力尤为突出。与适度、多样且均衡的饮食理念相悖，流行饮食将饮食自控塑造为打造理想化身材的手段，而这类身材往往以名人形象为典型范本。