Can you really trust social media diet trends for weight loss?
Atkins diet, keto, the cabbage soup diet, the egg diet, the Cambridge diet... as tempting as the endless range of ‘quick-fix’ fad diets may be, the promises they make around rapid weight loss for minimum effort are often both unrealistic and unsustainable (and usually lacking in robust scientific evidence).
A recent survey of over 2,000 adults, commissioned by Slimming World, revealed that more than half of UK adults have turned to fad diets in a bid to lose weight, but the majority have found these ‘magic bullet’ diets ineffective.
Among the 1,123 adults who attempted a fad diet, 71% reported that they either didn’t lose any weight or didn’t achieve their desired weight loss goals. 11% even gained weight during the process.
The study also found that more than a third of those who tried a fad diet could only stick to it for six days or less, highlighting the unsustainable nature of these diets.
Where’s the harm?
Social media was identified as a major source of diet trends, with 38% of those surveyed finding their fad diet on platforms like Instagram and TikTok.
The allure of so-called ‘miracle’ diets is strong, so much so that 44% of UK adults admitted they wouldn’t research a new weight loss method before trying it.
The most common fad diets people have tried:
- Weight loss supplements (29%)
- Apple cider vinegar (21%)
- A juice diet (19%)
- Skinny tea (16%)
- Vitamin water (15%)
- Cabbage soup diet (14%)
Dr Amanda Avery, health and research consultant dietitian at Slimming World, commented on the findings, saying; ‘It’s easy to fall for quick fixes when social media is flooded with misinformation, especially when we're desperate to lose weight. However, lasting weight loss requires a healthy, sustainable approach, supported by evidence-based strategies.
‘Losing weight and keeping it off isn’t easy. It requires change, which can be challenging. That’s why choosing an evidence-based approach and making sure you have support along the way is so important. Staying on track and committed until your efforts become everyday habits is the secret to long-term weight loss,’ she adds.
The survey's findings serve as a reminder that while fad diets may promise a quick fix, they rarely deliver sustainable outcomes.
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