Dietitians at the British Dietetic Association have identified nine red diet flags to avoid when aiming to improve health and nutrition.
Several fad diets that are often promoted around New Year’s Eve are not sustainable and can result in yoyo dieting, muscle loss, nutrition deficiencies, and metabolic adaptation, all of which can lead to future weight gain. A body of registered dietitians encourages people to say “no thank you” to them.
Image Credit: Pexels/Polina Tankilevitch
It is a good time of year for many people to set goals and intentions, including improving their health. The BDA Spokesperson Marcela Fiuza said, “New year’s resolutions that emphasize weight loss as a primary outcome can often lead to yoyo dieting or weight cycling, which is detrimental to health.” She said, “new year’s resolution diets can trigger eating disorders and lead to disordered eating.”
Weight Loss That Is Healthy And Sustainable
Nutrition professionals recommend eating a balanced diet of protein, carbohydrates, and fats, not over-restricting by enjoying all foods in moderation, and eating in a calorie deficit without dropping too low. Ensure you eat enough protein and resistance training to lose fat rather than muscle.
Image Credit: Pexels/Element5 Digital
Here are a few red flags to look out for when identifying potentially harmful diets:
- The magic bullet for losing weight
- Losing weight rapidly
- Detox refers to the process of detoxification
- Substituting expensive supplements for everyday ingredients
- Consuming only one type of food at a time
- Insufficient scientific evidence
- Eating foods that burn fat
- The restriction of entire food groups
- Marketing through influencers