'bantingism' originates from English, specifically the surname 'Banting', where 'Banting' refers to William Banting, who popularized a low-carbohydrate diet in the 19th century; the suffix '-ism' was added to denote a system or doctrine.

'bantingism' developed from the use of 'Banting' (the surname of William Banting) to name his dietary practice (often used as a verb or noun in the 19th century), with the later formation of 'Bantingism' by adding the suffix '-ism' to denote the doctrine or movement surrounding that diet.

Initially it referred specifically to the diet promoted by William Banting (as described in his 1863 'Letter on Corpulence'), but over time it has broadened to mean any advocacy of low-carbohydrate dieting or, more loosely, a dieting fad inspired by those ideas.