PREVIEW

There is a huge amount of misinformation about food and nutrition on the Internet and many people are often fooled into following this 'advice', even if it doesn't come from a qualified source. "Most of us wouldn't take a drug to deal with a medical condition, without seeking medical advice or being confident that it had been properly tested. And yet, some of us are persuaded to completely change what we eat, often overnight, based on something someone with very little, if any, nutritional expertise says worked for them.” "Positive, healthy messages around food can often get lost at this time of year in favour of quick fixes with persuasive before and after photographs, that sometimes do more harm than good. As a profession, we want to make sure that for those people looking to make changes in 2024, they do so in the healthiest and safest way possible.". Dietitians are frequently asked about weight-loss solutions their patients have heard about online, with members of BDA being questioned about carb avoidance, weight loss gummies, pureeing foods, juice diets, and cider vinegar for weight loss, among other fads, this year. Addressing the dangers of following unqualified dietary advice, registered dietitian and BDA spokesperson Anna Groom warned, “Following poor advice and fad diets that cut out whole food groups can increase risk of nutritional deficiencies and unbalanced diets.” “Removing carbohydrate to lose weight may reduce total calorie intake but also reduces fibre intake, which can have a negative effect on the bowels, increasing likelihood of constipation, reducing promotion of healthy gut bacteria and also reducing B vitamins, which are important for energy release." As we approach the New Year, BDA members are calling upon the public to cast a critical eye on the dietary information they are watching or reading. They suggest making sure you are following reputable people with recognised qualifications in nutrition to get positive and healthy messages about food. These experts should be talking about a healthy, balanced diet and a slow and steady approach to weight loss and dieting. In addition, BDA members recommend checking if the information is evidence-based and has multiple medical studies to support it as opposed to before and after photos. "If in any doubt, seek out advice from trusted sources like the NHS and the BDA or get some support with the help of a registered dietitian," Anna concludes.

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