Kerri Waldron
A nutritionist has issued a stark warning against a popular dieting trend, casting doubt on the effectiveness of these “quick fixes”. As Brits scramble to achieve their summer weight loss goals, one expert is raising the alarm about a rising trend in the health and wellness industry, cautioning that popular diets often unfairly vilify many food groups.
A recent study by Protein Works revealed that Millennials are still adhering to outdated dietary restrictions that gained notoriety in the 1990s due to the era’s restrictive diet culture. This includes fads like intermittent fasting and no-carb diets.
However, this period was notorious for promoting unrealistic body ideals and glorifying disordered eating across various forms of popular media, leaving a lasting impact on the now-adults who continue to adhere to these narrow beauty standards. Nutritionist Kyle Crowly has spoken out against these “demonisation” type diets, revealing that they can often lead to “unhealthy relationships with food”.
He cautioned: “The issue with promoting low-carb diets is the demonisation of a whole food group. This can further lead to unhealthy relationships with food and play into diet culture when, in fact, carbohydrates are fantastic, delicious and vital sources of energy and nutrients, which play a big part in a well-balanced diet.”
Nutritionist Kyle has suggested that a slight reduction in carbs, rather than cutting them out entirely, could lead to weight loss and be “much more sustainable and enjoyable”. A recent study highlighted the popularity of intermittent fasting across all age groups, with the 5:2 method eating normally for five days and restricting calories for two being particularly favoured.
Kyle pointed out that while intermittent fasting can help with shedding pounds according to science, he cautioned: “It’s important to note that many of these studies are small and of short duration and require longer-term research to assess IF’s sustainable role in weight loss. It is also not a diet for everyone.”
The younger generation, Gen Z, shares an interest in no-carb diets like their older peers, but they lean towards quick solutions and overall health, often choosing detox diets such as juice cleanses. However, Kyle warned against juice cleanses or detox diets due to their lack of dietary fibre and scant evidence supporting their claims to eliminate toxins or promote weight loss.
Adding a stern warning, he said: “It can also be very dangerous for the people participating if they aren’t eating enough solid food to meet their energy requirements. Often, these detox of juice cleanses can lead to tiredness, irritability and headaches, not to mention it can also increase the risk of eating disorders if not carefully managed.”
Source: bing.com
