BAGUIO CITY -- A local nutritionist cautioned the public not to fall for fad diets as it may pose potential health risk and dangers.

During the recent webinar dubbed “Tongtongan di Pansigedan” ToP Talks Webinar Series 1, Jennilyn Anacioco, a Registered Nutritionist Dietitian of  the Ospital ng San Jose in Nueva Ecija talked about fad diets, how to spot a fad diet and why fad diets are still rampant.

Anacioco cited Cleveland Clinic’s definition of fad diet as "eating plans that are often promoted as the best or fastest approach to losing weight." The most popular fad diets worldwide include Atkins diet, Ketogenic diet, detox diet, vegan diet, Paleolithic diet, Human Chorionic Gonadotropin (HCG) diet, and intermittent fasting.

Fad diets are still rampant because people are after quick results, market campaigns are powerful through testimonies, and due to social media influence, she said.

 “One way to spot a fad diet is if it promotes short term changes like it promises effect of losing weight of one kilogram  in five days,  which sounds too good to be true,” she explained.

Anacioco stressed that the National Nutrition Council (NNC), as well as other nutritionists and dietitians, do not promote the practice of fad diets due to their effects on the body.

“Fad diets are nutritionally inadequate it can lead to the occurrence of malnutrition due to certain mineral or vitamin deficiencies.  It can also lead to dehydration because of missing food groups, absence of physical activity, rapid weight loss. It has inconsistent scientific evidence and detrimental to those with chronic diseases,” she pointed out.
 
Instead, they  recommend adherence to a holistic, sustainable, adequate, and nutritionally balanced diet, complemented by an active lifestyle and lifelong behavioral modifications.

The ToP Talks Webinar was conducted by the NNC – Cordillera in partnership with the Cordillera Administrative Region Media Educators on Nutrition in celebration of  Nutrition Month.

NNC-CAR Regional Nutrition Program Coordinator Bella Basalong said that through the activity, participants would  be able to revise their motivation to adopt a healthier diet and to move more to be physically fit.

She encouraged the participants, who are mostly human resources staff and wellness focals, to embark on instituting weight management in the overall implementation of their wellness program.

‘By improving the health and wellbeing of our workforce, we also boost their productivity, which minimizes health care expenses. Ultimately, this will contribute to achieving a healthy Cordillera and improving our aim of inclusive development,’ Basalong said. (JDP/MAWC-PIA CAR)