It will undoubtedly be classified as one of the strangest diets around, but it will undoubtedly work judging by the result of the two authors who developed it and the effectiveness of their advice: it is called the Diet of Economists , and was conceived by two economists, in fact, who wrote a book about their weight loss experience.
Economists  Christopher Payne and Rob Barnett would have lost over fifty kilos in two (within 18 months) by applying the concepts of economics to their diet : a mathematical approach, even if not strictly scientific or nutritional, but which would have allowed them to lose weight. . After the War diet,the beaver diet, the Oh My God diet and other “special” diets, the Economists’ diet is one of the strange diets that will make most people turn up their noses, yet the advice behind the diet, although not strictly food but coming from world of economics, identify some of the major causes of obesity according to experts (these yes nutritionists).

Which are: abundance (of food, of choice), and gluttony.

In their book, economists Payne and Barnett explain that in the West far too many food resources are wasted , and that this waste, as well as other wastes of resources (water, energy, etc.) will soon lead us to economic ruin and disaster. The solution to the abundance, the large portions and the far too large choice of foods that we find in supermarkets, is to eat less, obviously, by imposing not to waste useless food, as well as not ingesting useless calories. And to do this you need to buy less food, and throw less of it.

One of the things that distinguish us for the worse from past generations is in fact the abundance of food both in quantity and in choice: today we find hundreds of thousands of products for each category of food. There is not only the baker’s bread, there are hundreds of different breads and rolls. Our shopping carts are filled with hundreds of different brands.
At lunch they explain that a salad would be better , and that it would be  better when you can shop online, in order to avoid the temptation of the shelves, but buying what is really needed (another trick is to always do the shopping after eating, never before); avoid buying snacks at the machines, wasting money on junk food or empty calories where possible, preparing most meals at home, focusing on simple and unprocessed dishes, and on simple ingredients. Where possible, stay at the table by reducing food, calories, portions, and choice, living with a pinch of hunger even after eating.

In short, the concept of austerity applied to the diet allowed these two economists to lose 25 kilos without a precise nutritional plan, but reducing the sense of gluttony and the abundance of food in their life.
And, think about it, it also saves money. Otherwise what diet of economists would it be?