Expert dietitian warns young people 'don't take weight loss tips from influencers'

An expert dietitian has warned young people to take caution before following advice from influencers on social media. While it may be tempting to listen to someone telling you to eat certain meals or avoid foods in order to look like them, they don’t always know what they’re talking about, an expert dietitian has said.

Kristin Kirkpatrick, from Cleveland Clinic, said that “having a lot of followers doesn’t mean that someone has the medical credentials to be able to provide that guidance”.

She added: “Followers, likes, comments, that doesn’t always really equate to someone who knows what they’re talking about.” For instance, if an influencer tells you that you should go gluten-free, you should stop to question whether that guidance really applies to you. The warning comes after a man claimed 'I lost 10st in a year without jabs, surgery or going to the gym'.

In fact, Kirkpatrick saidnot everyone needs to eliminate gluten from their diet, and the same applies to cutting out entire food groups like carbohydrates and fats. For some people, this can lead to an unhealthy relationship with food being developed.

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You should also be wary when it comes to influencers promoting weight loss products and supplements. The dietitian said: “If you have someone who is making claims that are more in line with opinions without any kind of health background, we have to ask ourselves what is the motivation for that? Is it money? Is it that they are just sharing something that's working for themselves?”

What works for someone on social media may not work for everyone, and it is important that people know this is okay. Kirkpatrick said that people should be careful to not compare themselves or feel ashamed if they don’t see the same results in themselves as others online.

One online fad, the no-carb diet, is popular because “the rules are easy to follow”, according to dietitian Natalie Romito. She said that while it can be tempting, there are definite downsides.

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She told Cleveland Clinic: “When you stop eating carbs, you lose water weight quickly, as the stored carb in your body is used up. That results in rapid weight loss for most people over the first week or two. But then, it slows down the longer you’re on the diet.”

Another social media trend that is particularly dangerous is the baby food diet. It is not only unsustainable, but lacks nutritional balance as it is designed for babies. Dietitian Devon Peart said by following this diet you are missing out on essential nutrients like fibre, which aids digestion, and protein, which builds muscle.

Extreme hunger is also a negative effect of the diet. Peart explained: “When you feel deprived and agitated, you’re more likely to binge. Evening is when willpower can be at its lowest, so dinner would be especially difficult to keep in check.”

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