A nutritionist has issued a warning about the potential harmful side effects of summer diets and highlighted alternative ways to achieve weight loss without following a traditional diet plan. As the season sees a surge in new fad diets and trends aimed at quick weight loss before summer holidays, experts caution that these rapid solutions may pose risks to health. According to nutritionists at weight-loss program Second Nature, extreme diets can lead to significant setbacks in long-term weight management.
Robbie Puddick, a registered nutritionist at Second Nature, emphasised the importance of avoiding quick-fix diets and focusing instead on sustainable weight loss strategies. Summer diets, centred on short-term losses, are not recommended for continued use into autumn as they can have negative effects in the long run. Nutritionists emphasised the necessity of a balanced diet to maintain overall health and well-being.
Extreme dieting practices, such as cutting out entire food groups or significantly reducing calorie intake, can result in adverse health effects like headaches, weakness, dizziness, and fatigue. Furthermore, such practices can impact both mental and physical well-being, leading to issues like brain fog and disrupted bowel movements. The pressure to lose weight quickly for summer can also contribute to burnout.
In response to these concerns, nutritionists outlined four simple steps for achieving weight loss without resorting to restrictive diets. These steps include making healthier food substitutions instead of focusing solely on eating less, adopting meal-planning strategies to support healthier food choices, incorporating a regular workout routine into daily life, and setting achievable, non-scale-based goals to avoid the pitfalls of unrealistic rapid weight loss expectations.
By following these healthier approaches to weight management, individuals can promote sustainable weight loss and overall well-being while avoiding the potential risks associated with extreme dieting practices.