How to spot a fad diet Don’t be taken in by false promises! Learn how to spot an unsustainable diet, and prioritise your health and happiness this New Year Writing | Kathryn Wheeler
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e all know the drill. The New Year comes around and suddenly we’re bombarded with ‘New Year, new you’ ad campaigns, promising that the latest diet is guaranteed to transform your body, and your life. The hard truth is that the majority of diets just don’t work. Not just because they may be factually inaccurate or designed for mass consumption rather than individuals, but also because they tend to prioritise self-punishing, short-term visions over long-term happiness and sustainability. With the help of registered nutritionist Michaella Mazzoni, we explore four ways to spot a fad diet, so that you can save your time and money, and make real, long-lasting positive change – the right way.
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The unreliable source
The quick fix
In this age of information, we have access to a wealth of knowledge at our fingertips. And while this empowers us to find the help and support we’re looking for, it can also be a pitfall when it comes to dieting. “Consider the source of the information,” says Michaella. “Is the person behind the dietary advice you are about to follow qualified? Is an influencer or company trying to sell you a magic tea that they are going to profit from?” Spend some time looking into the diet that you’ve just come across, and you may find that all is not exactly as it seems. And although sponsorship deals can be a great way to learn about new products, be wary of hype and overpromises.
“If a diet is promising that you’ll lose more than two pounds per week, close that tab and move on! It’s simply unhealthy to lose large amounts of weight in a short period,” Michaella explains. It’s something we’ve all come across: the miracle cure that will transform your body in just a few simple steps. But that’s rarely the case. Long-lasting change happens gradually, and is usually tied up in the habits that we drop and embrace in our daily lives, rather than a sudden change. At one end, ‘quick fix’ diets can result in disappointment and lack of motivation as we don’t see the results that we’re expecting. At the other end, we can verge into unhealthy territory, and put our body through stress that it shouldn’t be under.