British Diabetic Association's top five worst diets of 2013

THE party season is almost upon us – the time when winter woollies have to make way for little black dresses. If a bit of comfort eating to keep out those winter chills has left zippers straining, you may be looking to drop a few pounds, either now or in the new year. But beware of short-term fixes that can damage your health... and your bank account.
 

“There is no magic wand approach to sensible and sustainable weight loss. There is no wonder diet you can follow without some nutritional or health risk and most are offering a short-term fix to a long term problem,” says Sophie Roberts, a freelance dietitian who lives and works in Oxford (sophie roberts.com). Deep down, we all know that but when we read about diets that (gorgeous) celebrities are alleged to be following it’s tempting to throw common sense out the window and follow a fad.

Don’t do it, is the message from The British Dietetic Association (BDA), the nation’s largest organisation of food and nutrition professionals with more than 7,000 members, which comes across a huge range of weird and wacky diets and weight-loss claims. It has just revealed its annual list of Top Celebrity Diets to Avoid. For the previous three years, the Dukan Diet has come out as number one but it slips to number five this year. Making a new entry, the Breatharian Diet has taken the top slot, followed by the Biotyping Diet at number two, the Gluten Free Diet at number three and the Alcorexia Diet at number four. Here are the worst celebrity-linked diets the BDA has identified and spoken out against in 2013:

*Breatharian Diet
Celebrity Link: Actress Michelle Pfeiffer has reportedly revealed she believes she was involved in a cult that followed the Breatharian Diet. (Similar to Madonna’s alleged Air Diet, when you pretend to eat the food on the plate in front of you and fill up by gulping air.) What’s it all about? Individuals who follow the Breatharian Diet can believe that they do not need to eat food or drink any liquids because they can achieve sustenance from air and/or sunlight alone. BDA Verdict: You seriously cannot live on fresh air alone! We cannot stress enough that people should not even consider following this diet. There is nothing good we could ever say about the Breatharian Diet. You can be sure of weight loss if anyone attempted to exist on this diet but this would also be accompanied by, dehydration, malnutrition and risk of death.

*Biotyping
Celebrity Link: In 2013, singer Boy George reportedly cited this as attributing to his weight loss. What’s it all about? There are various approaches with this. The BioSignature system relates to six different hormone types and fat accumulation in different body sites and aims for site-specific body fat reduction, measured by skinfold calipers, through hormone balance. By choosing only certain foods, thus cutting out others, adding a training programme and taking supplements the promise is it will spot reduce fat. BDA Verdict: Bio-nonsense! This diet relies too heavily on supplements and pseudo-science with only a selective grain of robust science (that hormones are involved in fat metabolism) and does not even mention visceral fat (internal fatty tissue).

*Gluten-Free Diet
Celebrity Link: Gwyneth Paltrow allegedly advocates this. What’s it all about? Cutting out gluten, the protein found in wheat, barley rye and oats and foods containing it is a healthier option for all and can lead to weight loss. BDA Verdict: Whilst important for those with coeliac disease or gluten sensitivity, there is no credible published research showing that a gluten-free diet per se leads to weight loss in those without.

*Alcorexia/Drunkorexia Diet
Celebrity Link: It is widely thought that many top models and others follow this “diet”. What’s it all about? It’s when people eat very few calories during the day/week and bank these saved calories (kcals) in order to binge-drink alcohol over the weekend, usually. For example, if you favour a VLC diet (very low calorie) you could be banking around 1,500 kcals a day, which then gives you 10,500 kcals to drink during the week (based on the recommended female diet of 2,000 kcals per day). This amounts to: 45 pints of lager (based on a single pint being around 230 kcals). With a pint of lager being two units, this gives you a weekly alcohol intake of 90 units. 131 glasses of red wine, or 26 bottles (based on a glass of red being around 80 kcals). With a single glass being one unit, this gives you a weekly alcohol intake of 131 units). Context: The safe weekly alcohol unit intake is 28 units for men and 21 units for women. BDA Verdict: Do not fall off the wagon! Following a VLC diet alone is madness in itself, as you will most certainly not be getting the calories, vitamins and nutrients your body needs to survive and function.

Not only that, but by the end of the week when you are also tired and weak, you then subject your body to an onslaught of alcohol intake. Alcohol has little nutrition other than calories. This is a worrying “diet” that could end up causing immense damage to the body.

*Dukan Diet
Celebrity Link: The Duchess of Cambridge’s mum, Carole Middleton, and Jennifer Lopez have reportedly followed this diet. What’s it all about? This is a complicated high protein, no/low carb, four-phase diet that promotes rapid weight loss. BDA Verdict: ‘Dukan’ do so much better! The rigid Dukan Diet works by restricting food, so restricting calories. Initial weight loss will be fluid. Even the creator of the diet, Pierre Dukan, who in 2013 was banned from practising as a GP in France, has warned of associated issues with the diet such as lack of energy, constipation, the need for a vitamin and mineral supplement and bad breath. Sian Porter, consultant dietitian and spokeswoman for the BDA, said: “The bottom line is, if it sounds too good to be true, then it probably is. “Also, if you have to pay out for a DVD or special book or product that will unlock the secrets of losing weight, this can also be a good indicator that the only pounds you will be losing will be out of your wallet. Sophie also points out that while glamorous images of celebrities saturate some parts of the media, many celebrities have an army of people to help them maintain their image, which is essential to their livelihood, and plenty of money to do whatever they think it takes.

So, start a sensible diet and, for the short term, buy your party dress in a size that fits, rather than one you have to starve yourself to get in.

ESSENTIALS
- For BDA Food Fact Sheets go to bda.uk.com/foodfacts/index.html including one specifically about weight loss at bda.uk.com/foodfacts/ Want2LoseWeight.pdf