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Public figures love to share diets and various nutrition tips on social media. In response, experts urge everyday internet users not to trust these recommendations. Such advice can lead to serious health issues. The persistent slogan “New Year, New You!” that we often hear during the winter holidays is frequently a speculative way to extract as much money as possible from naive individuals, for instance, for the latest weight loss pills.
This year, nutrition specialists have often had to explain to gullible patients the absurdity of certain diets, mostly found in celebrity posts.
Throughout 2023, experts from the British Dietetic Association (BDA) systematically addressed people’s questions about “trendy” eating habits. These included carb-free diets, weight loss chewing candies, juice and raw food detox diets, fat-burning products during menopause, the so-called carnivore diet, the benefits of pureed foods, and fasting diets featuring fruits, eggs, and water.
BDA dietitians urged the public not to follow “fashionable” dietary advice gleaned from social media. Experts assert that influential figures should not be equated with experts simply because they have millions of followers.
How to Protect Your Health
The “fresh” trends promoted by celebrities can be dangerous, leading to health problems, including eating disorders.
The BDA, a professional organization representing over 11,000 dietitians across the UK, even issued a warning ahead of the winter holidays. Many may be tempted by advice from famous individuals regarding diets aimed at losing weight before corporate events or shedding extra pounds gained from numerous feasts.
Caroline Bovey, a registered dietitian and head of the BDA, commented on the situation regarding unprofessional celebrity advice: “Most of us wouldn’t take medication without consulting a doctor or being sure it has been properly tested.”
However, some of us can be convinced to completely change our diets simply because someone without professional qualifications assured us that such a change supposedly helped them, Ms. Bovey noted.
People Eagerly Believe Those They Adore
The issue is that various misguided theories are promoted by “role models” who have credibility. However, the consequences of rapid weight loss due to such advice can be extremely problematic.
As renowned dietitian Jennifer Lowe, who also represents the association, stated, all these diets are particularly appealing because they are endorsed by a personality we admire, whose life seems perfect to us.
Experts have urged social media users to critically evaluate the recommendations they receive. At the very least, they should check for medical research that supports the benefits of products endorsed by celebrities.
Dietitian Anna Grooms pointed out that bizarre “celebrity” diets exclude entire food groups. This can lead to nutrient deficiencies and unbalanced nutrition, as reported by the Daily Mail.
For example, cutting out carbohydrates for weight loss reduces calorie intake, along with fiber consumption. This can negatively affect the gut, increase the likelihood of constipation, reduce the growth of healthy gut bacteria, and lower levels of B vitamins, which are essential for energy release, she added.
Therefore, when it comes to health, it’s unacceptable to engage in self-diagnosis. For advice, one should turn to dietitians, as they are the only qualified medical professionals who can accurately assess diets and address nutritional issues on an individual level.
