These days, it’s hard to scroll through social media without coming across yet another review about a new diet promising rapid weight loss just by following strict eating practices and with no exercise required. When shedding pounds feels like an uphill battle, such fad diets can be appealing. In fact, many customers at dorra Slimming cited this as a reason for trying fad diets. But if it sounds too good to be true, that’s because it usually is.
Why Are Fad Diets Harmful?
Despite being championed by many influencers and purported health gurus, most fad diets are rarely backed by scientific evidence.
1. Nutrient Deficiency
While seemingly harmless, many of these diets also often affect long-term health, as they typically involve cutting out certain types of foods or food groups, which deprive the body of the nutrients it needs to function properly.
For instance, liquid diets may fall short of providing vital nutrients like iron and vitamin B12, contributing to anaemia and fatigue. Popular low-carb diets like Keto and Atkins aren’t that great either—limiting yourself of the body’s primary energy source means you’ll rely on less efficient fuel sources, potentially slowing down your metabolism and hindering weight loss. This could also compromise your overall well-being, affecting everything from your mood to your cognitive function.
2. Calorie Deficit and Metabolic Imbalance
Another significant issue is that fad diets often involve extreme calorie restriction. When you drastically cut your calorie intake, your body perceives this as a threat and goes into “survival mode.” To conserve energy, your metabolism slows down, meaning you burn fewer calories at rest. Over time, this makes it harder to lose weight, as the body becomes more efficient at storing fat and less efficient at burning it, essentially working against your weight loss goals.
3. Disordered Eating
Fad diets can also have a significant impact on one’s relationship with food and eating behaviours. The restrictive nature of these diets, whether it’s severely limiting carbs, fats, or entire food groups, can create an unhealthy obsession with food. This can manifest as an increased focus on calories, a fear of certain foods, and feelings of anxiety or guilt associated with eating.
Furthermore, these restrictions can trigger hormonal imbalances that lead to intense cravings, potentially resulting in episodes of binge eating. The rigid rules and “good” vs. “bad” food categorisations often found in fad diets can also foster feelings of shame or failure, contributing to a distorted body image and significantly increasing the risk of developing disordered eating patterns, which require professional intervention to address.
Sustainable Weight Loss: It’s About Balance
In the long run, the extreme measures advocated by fad diets often prove unsustainable, and they can be detrimental to both your mental and physical health. While they might lead to quick initial weight loss, these results are often temporary. Sustainable weight management is best achieved through a balanced and healthy diet that incorporates a wide range of foods in reasonable portions.
If you’re looking for comprehensive support on your weight loss journey, dorra Slimming offers holistic, personalised programmes to give you the much-needed boost! Our dorra Slimming nutritionist will review your body condition and create a meal plan to help you achieve your individual weight loss goals effectively and sustainably. Read our reviews to learn what our past clients have to say.