Planning a New Year diet? Don’t take ‘fad’ nutritional advice from clueless celebrities and influencers on social media, top experts urge

• The British Dietetic Association warned the trends could cause medical issues
• Weight loss gummies and juice diets are among the common ‘fads’ this year 

Dietitians have urged the public to avoid taking ‘fad’ nutritional advice from clueless celebrities on social media.

The British Dietetic Association says ‘influencers’ should not be mistaken for experts simply because they have millions of followers.

It warned the trends may be dangerous, cause medical issues and lead to eating disorders.

The professional body, which represents over 11,000 members of the dietetic workforce across the UK, issued its alert as many Britons are planning a New Year diet.

Dietitians are constantly questioned about wacky weight loss solutions that their patients or clients have heard about on social media.

In 2023 alone, members of the BDA were asked about carbohydrate avoidance, weight loss gummies, a raw cleansing diet, products aimed at those going through the menopause that blast belly fat, the carnivore diet, pureeing foods, juice diets, cider vinegar for weight loss – and the fruit, egg and water fasting diet.

Caroline Bovey, a registered dietitian and chair of the BDA, said: ‘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.’

READ MORE: Surge in number of people in hospital with nutrient deficiencies, NHS figures show 

Alexia Dempsey, another registered dietitian, said: ‘We exist in a strange time where individuals who can have little to no dietary or medical training can offer nutrition and lifestyle advice to the masses.

‘This is often due to a social media reach.’

The BDA said it is easy to see why people get drawn in by ‘quick fixes’, especially when they are promoted by trusted public figures and role models.

However, it warned the medical implications of rapid weight loss can be ‘extremely problematic’ and lead to disordered eating.

Jennifer Low, a registered dietitian and BDA spokesperson, said: ‘So many unqualified people are giving out nutrition advice.

‘Often, because they do not have the training that registered dietitians and registered nutritionists have, they will be pushing their own health beliefs, rather than advice grounded in evidence and years of clinical practice.

‘Diets are particularly attractive when they are promoted by someone we idolise and think has the perfect life.

‘We also love results, and we love them even more when they are quick and painless, but the reality is far from this.

‘Often when “New Year — New You” is being promoted it does not come from a healthy place, and it is almost always weight loss driven.

‘It can also encourage disordered eating, which can easily progress to being a clinical eating disorder.

‘Many of my clients, in fact, cite a fad diet as the beginning of their eating disorder.’

The BDA is asking members of the public to ‘critically appraise’ what they watch or read.

It suggests checking if there are multiple medical studies to support the claims made by celebrities, rather than just a before an after photo.

Anna Groom, a registered dietitian and BDA spokesperson, said: ‘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.’

Anna added: ‘Always question what you are watching. Do they remove a whole food group? Do they recommend one particular super food? Do they recommend a particular supplement?

‘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.’

Dietitians are the only qualified and regulated health professionals that assess, diagnose and treat diet and nutrition problems, at an individual and wider public-health level.

They use the most up to date public health and scientific research on food, health and disease, which they translate into practical guidance to enable people to make appropriate lifestyle and food choices.

They work in the NHS, private practice, industry, education, research, sport, media and government.

Their advice influences food and health policy across the spectrum from government and global industry to local communities and individuals.

It may be possible to get a referral to an NHS dietitian from a GP, while others can be paid for privately.