Experts’ health warning over the clean food danger diets
Social media eating fads leaving patients unwell
Health experts have warned that so-called clean eating is fuelling a rise in patients needing psychiatric help.
The latest diet craze – promoted on social media by celebrities – encourages followers to eat only a limited number of approved foods.
But dietitians say that instead of seeing health benefits, those who try it frequently become unwell.
The experts believe that promoting “clean eating” has led to a rise in orthorexia – where sufferers become obsessed with what they eat.
Followers also restrict their diets so much that they become starved of vital nutrients, resulting in weight loss, weakness and decreasing bone density.
Dr Teri Fairnie, a senior specialist at Castle Craig Hospital in Peebles, said: “Healthy eating in itself sounds like a good thing, and it is. But the problem with strictly clean eating is it narrows what foods you can eat.
“Strictly clean eating encourages some compulsive behaviours, especial ly in those prone to eating issues.
“You end up with a restricted diet. That can fuel anyone who’s struggling with a body image issue, or if someone already has a food restriction issue. It creates its own cycle of anxiety.”
“Clean eating” is being pushed by “influencers”, bloggers and celebrities on Instagram and other social media.
Fats, carbohydrates, gluten, processed foods, dairy, meat and animal products are banned. The “clean eating” hashtag on Instagram has 45.2million posts.
Dr Fairnie warned: “Instagram and social media can encourage compulsive behaviours .
“Typical compulsive behaviours are things like checking ingredients, checking nutritional labels and cutting out food groups completely. These can al l be promoted by a popula r Instagrammer and lead to problems.”
Dr Glynis Read, an eating disorder specialist at Castle Craig, said: “This is a very dangerous diet.
“It’s extremely harmful for these Instagrammers with thousands of followers to promote such diets without any real qualification. I don’t know how much these supposed gurus think about what they are doing. They are exploiting the vulnerable to make a quick buck.
“There is no such thing as ‘clean’ food. This description gives the false message that many healthy and wholesome foods that make part of a balanced diet should be avoided.”
Eating disorder charity Beat said: “There’s anecdotally an increase in the instances of orthorexia.This may be exacerbated by the emphasis on what is presented as healthy eating.
“We urge companies and individuals to consider the implications of promoting healthy eating content which could be easily accessible to vulnerable people.”
This diet is very dangerous. It’s a false message