Water diet ‘is the most dangerous weight loss regime ever’

NUTRITIONISTS have condemned a dangerous new fad diet which bans everything but water, tea and coffee.

Water fasting has become popular on social media with thousands of people using the hashtag #waterfast to document their progress and encourage others to take part.

But critics say ‘the most dangerous diet ever’ was taking the trend for cleansing too far.

Eating disorder expert Joanne Labiner likened water fasting to conditions such as anorexia and said it should be avoided, especially at a time of year when people were considering slimming down after Christmas.

She said: ‘It can be so bad for your organs. That’s why people with anorexia can die of a heart attack. Their body feeds on their heart. Our body thinks it’s an emergency and tries to prevent that fat storage from being used up, and it feeds on the muscle.’

Twitter users said water fasting left their skin looking ‘amazing’. Others said they got the ‘best sleep of my life’ once they started it.

On Christmas Eve, one dieter wrote: ‘Day 9 of my 21-day #waterfast and it’s going very well. Amazing results.’

Another dieter, who lost 3st 9lbs, said he was forced to quit because he was so tired he could barely get out of bed.

Yet others were still convinced it could work, with one writing: ‘Here goes…!!! Back at it again, #waterfasting time. Anyone who wants to join me and go through this pleasurable pain and suffering with me is more than welcome.’

NHS guidelines say dieters should lose no more than 2lbs a week. Kidney specialist Dr Jason Fung said short-term fasting worked but for only certain patients.

Water fasting was appropriate for clients who were obese or had Type 2 diabetes – but only under a doctor’s supervision, he said. ‘It can be done, people do them, but they have to be done safely. I don’t think it’s the safest thing to do, but if you’re obese, it’s not the most dangerous thing, either.’

‘It can be so bad for your organs’