Warning to anyone thinking of taking up a new diet in 2023 – as it could be ‘detrimental to your health’

IT’S something many people start to suggest after days of gorging on chocolates and roast potatoes, ‘I’m going on a diet in the New Year’.

But experts have warned that embarking on a weight loss journey in 2023 could actually do you more harm than good.

Dietitians across the UK have said they are constantly trying to convince patients to not take up fad diets.

The British Dietetic Association (BDA) has urged Brits to say ‘No Thank You’ to fad diets.

Experts warned that many of the plans shared can’t be sustained long-term and can actually cause more harm than good.

This can lead to yoyo dieting, muscle loss, nutrient deficiencies and ultimately metabolic adaptation, which can cause more weight to be regained in the long-term, they said.

A previous study, published in 2018 found that yoyo dieters may be more than twice as likely to die young as those who maintain a stable weight.

Doctors warned frequent variations in weight, blood pressure, cholesterol or blood sugar are seriously bad for health.

BDA member Registered Dietitian, Nichola Ludlam-Raine warned: “Psychologically, it can be really damaging to people’s self-esteem, making people believe that they are not good enough as they are, and that they have to conform to perceived society ‘ideals’ and have to make changes at this time.

“The truth is quite the opposite – and we must work on people’s self-esteems in order to make positive changes to dietary intake, focusing on what we should be eating and doing more of, like increasing fluid and fibre, rather than focusing on restriction.”

Experts said that the public should be ‘incredibly critical’ of the advice they come across over the next few days.

They added that you should also heed caution before investing in anything that claims to offer a quick-fix weight loss solution.

Registered Dietitian and BDA Spokesperson Marcela Fiuza said: “For many people the new year is a good opportunity to set goals and intentions, including to improve health.

“However, new year’s resolutions that focus on weight loss as a primary outcome can often lead to yoyo dieting or weight cycling, which can be detrimental to health. 

“New year’s resolution diets can also be triggering for those with eating disorders and can lead to disordered eating.” 

As we head into the New Year, it’s likely you’ll see a plethora of diet advertisements.

These could be in the form of shakes and weight loss plans and are likely to be rife across social media.

Because of this, the BDA are working with the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) to report adverts that share incorrect and misleading information on diets.

Miles Lockwood, Director of Complaints and Investigations at the ASA said: “Our rules make it clear that advertisers need to not be misleading or irresponsible when advertising diet products or systems.

“Any claims should be backed up by robust evidence, not just ‘before’ and ‘after’ photos, and ads shouldn’t make claims that people can lose an irresponsible amount of weight or fat.

“Advertisers also need to make sure they’re not targeting under-18s or including anything in their ads that might be offensive.”

If you need help with your weight then it’s always best to speak to your GP before embarking on a new diet or eating plan.