Fad diets and why to avoid them

Fad diets and why to avoid them

Following the latest celebrity-endorsed fad diet that promises to give you the body you desire in just a few short weeks may be fun and exciting, but in reality this type of diet rarely leads to long-term weight loss.

Instead, short-term fad dieters usually suffer a ‘rebound’ effect as they get tired of the regime and end up putting all the weight they lost back on. Some diets that recommend that you eliminate a major food group, eat a drastically reduced number of calories, fast continuously for several days or consume only juices can be downright dangerous to your health.

So, although it might not satisfy your craving for instant results, the best way to lose weight and keep it off is the slow and steady approach based on eating a balanced diet with a moderate calorific deficit and getting plenty of exercise.

Work out how many calories you need each day to maintain your weight (called the basal metabolic rate) and then aim to consume 500 calories less than this. Men typically need 2,500 calories per day and women need about 2,000 but these figures vary from person to person – there are many useful tools online that can help you to work out your personal basal metabolic rate. Then use a tool like the Your Health First free app to plan your diet and track how many calories you are consuming each day. Add in some light exercise like walking, running or cycling four or five times a week for at least 30 minutes per session and in a few months you will feel fitter, lighter and healthier.

Make this approach the basis of your lifestyle and you won’t have any need for potentially unhealthy fad diets.

The Your Health First app is available for free for Apple and Android phones and tablets from the Apple App store and Google Play.

Remember, it’s your life, your future, Your Health First.