Detox, macros, biohacking, alternate-day fasting, mindful eating... there's always a new buzzword that dominates online algorithms and promises to fix your relationship with food.
And the allure is strong: a recent survey of 2,000 UK adults discovered that 44% of them wouldn’t research a new weight loss method before trying it. However, out of the 56% who have attempted a fad diet, 71% reported that they didn’t achieve their desired weight loss goals, and 11% even gained weight during the process.
@dietitiancass I’ll go first: Bulletproof #dieting ♬ original sound - 🖖
So, dietitian Cassandra Lepore decided to do her own little study and asked people on TikTok to share the worst diet they've tried, receiving a buffet of cautionary tales about the pitfalls of chasing trends.
#1
Keto. Somehow eating fruits isn’t okay bc they’re “too high in sugar” but eating sticks of butter as a “snacks” is considered healthier?????
Image credits: chefthalia
#2
Anxiety and being poor in college.
Image credits: nenavideodiary
"Probably the most common misconception about dieting is the 'eat kale and move' approach," Iris Gorfinkel, M.D. general practitioner, medical researcher, and the founder of PrimeHealth Family Practice and Clinical Research, told Bored Panda.
"That's actually what people are told. And what does that do? It makes them feel bad about themselves because they ask, 'Well if it's that easy, how come I haven't been able to do it?' It leads to depression and increases obesity by as much as 50%. It's incredible."
#3
when my mum made me do slimming world at the ripe age of 11😔.
Image credits: lydiamai05
#4
I did a diet by a “nutritionist” influencer that was like 700 calories. She would specify stuff like “2 tbsp” of rice, “3 almonds” “half an apple” I was miserable.
Image credits: bellahadidntt
"People often don't realize there are over 140 different genes that control and influence weight," Gorfinkel said. "Of course, epigenetic things influence whether or not those genes get expressed, but I think this whole terrible mix starts with people not believing enough in themselves."
Which, again, is largely our collective doing. "Pictures of so-called beautiful people — often unrealistically thin — are constantly shown in the media [and everywhere around us], and the messaging is, 'Eat kale and move', 'What's wrong with you?'"
The doctor believes this is actually the basis of the problem. And it's hard to argue. A survey of 4,250 Good Housekeeping readers discovered that 48% of them disagree or strongly disagree that they are happy with the way their bodies look and feel and 17% said they'd shave years off their lives in exchange for their ideal body.
#5
The seafood diet. I sea food i eat it 😔.
Image credits: sosadotcom_
#6
i did an egg fast and on the third day i s**t myself in the car.
Image credits: malinawinks701
#7
raw vegan. ate nothing but fruit & veggies for like 2 years. i was the girl in the math problem buying 20 mangos.
Image credits: cxem.x
"It's not diet, it's not exercise, it's do you believe in yourself? Can you love yourself? Everything else comes from that," Gorfinkel said. "If there is enough self-love, then a person is far more likely to sleep better at night and to be motivated to do the things that improve the way they feel, and that includes exercise. That also includes eating a healthy diet."
If the doctor were to give one piece of advice to those of us who want to make healthy and sustainable changes, it would be to focus on your mental health first.
"It is the foundation to achieving the other tentpoles of wellness, like ensuring a good night's sleep or proper diet," she highlighted.
#8
cabbage soup diet. the smell of it will make me throw up now.
Image credits: monachopsis101
#9
Am I the only one who’s unhealthy diet was overeating.
#10
One apple a day. It didn’t keep the doctor away when I went to the hospital.
Image credits: incoggnito
#11
Thinking 1200 calories was a caloric deficit for me when I’m a combat sports athlete who turns out burns 2500-3000 cals total a day…
Image credits: jasminelhodges
#12
I used to count the calories in sticks of gum and be nervous the 5 calories would make me gain weight..
Image credits: c696557
#13
I’ve just always counted cals but in the time I was trying to eat 1200 I would take TEN grapes (yes, ten) and CUT THEM IN HALF so that I could feel I was eating more so yeah.
Image credits: fiaa__22
#14
My mom told me I had to stop keto because I was too mean.
Image credits: lindszbinz
#15
i literally went on an all potato diet. dead serious.
Image credits: shylaroseo
#16
freshman year me learned what “water fasting” was !! very very bad idea 😍.
Image credits: angelica.rain
#17
The one after I found out what calories were and decided I didn’t need them.
Image credits: sammigracerobinson
#18
i would eat 2 eggs a day and when i would start feeling hungry i would go to bed.
Image credits: normaamndz
#19
The one where you give yourself an irreparable relationship with food.
Image credits: user838572722948
#20
My friends and I all did the Special K diet in high school where all we ate was 3 bowls of Special K a day 😭😭😭 like WHY was that a thing, no wonder we all always felt awful.
Image credits: missmadelinejane
#21
probably the peak of my binge eating disorder when i would get mcdonald’s for dinner at 3am every night.
Image credits: lindsmatte
#22
i went two months on liquids i did not eating single solid for two months out of my free will.
Image credits: realyves
#23
My dad put me on a diet where all I was allowed to eat was carrots (I’m allergic) and tea w/ honey😁✊🏻.
Image credits: neonoaki
#24
“I don’t eat anything and then when I’m about to faint I eat a cube of cheese.”
Image credits: kellybooboonumber2
#25
I had coffee for 3 days straight and by hour 40 I puked coffee.
Image credits: ailsby_noa_
#26
I didn’t eat on my period. All I had was water and gum.
Image credits: loveletters4y0u
#27
Broccoli, tuna, and 100 cal bags of popcorn for 6 months.
Image credits: idontw.annabeme
#28
Fish and a rice cake.
Image credits: katiec1275
#29
The 2016 vegan YouTuber phase almost destroyed me 💀.
Image credits: kwynnriess
#30
Herbalife in college, lost 40 lbs, but I didn’t eat and it was sooooo expensive.
Image credits: kaileysharp
#31
The tumblr ED “diet” in 2011 (ABC anything but calories).
Image credits: myspace.net
#32
one meal a day in college before graduation.
#33
✨water and air diet✨.
Image credits: luv.meliii1
#34
One jar of Nutella per day coz one jar was equal to your daily calorie needs 😅.
Image credits: alienait3
#35
THE iu diet at the ripe age of 13.
Image credits: onthexaxis
