The danger of restrictive diets

Are you the type who accepts everything for a perfect body? Know that you could be putting your health at risk! Living in a world where aesthetics are overvalued is not easy. Especially among women, the demand for a perfect body hits hard and, unfortunately, earlier and earlier. In 2023, a study prepared by […]

Are you the type who accepts everything for a perfect body? Know that you could be putting your health at risk!

Living in a world where aesthetics are overvalued is not easy. Especially among women, the demand for a perfect body hits hard and, unfortunately, earlier and earlier. In 2023, a study conducted by the Universidad de Castilla-La Mancha, in Spain, brought to light a frightening statistic. Over the past 23 years, approximately 20% of children and young people between the ages of 6 and 18 have had some type of eating disorder, such as anorexia and bulimia. The group of researchers analyzed data from several countries, including Brazil, to reach this conclusion. And, with such a high incidence of eating disorders, one of the symptoms that go unnoticed is precisely them: restrictive diets, popularly known as radical diets.

“Many people look for quick fixes to meet beauty standards. They are victims of low self-esteem and seek social acceptance. Social networks or specific events, such as weddings, graduations, trips or even aesthetic pressure in professions that value appearance, can be the motivating element to adopt a restrictive diet”, warns nutritionist Cinzia Zattera.

The Allied Lines

Eating a balanced diet and exercising are important for maintaining your physical and mental health. And it can also help you develop social skills and hobbies. This is what experts emphasize, but it is well known that motivation for healthy living often comes as a result of struggling with the scale. Of course, feeling good about your body and having that wellness as a goal is great. But for your safety, it is essential to understand that a healthy routine should not only involve a slim body.

The nutritionist is adamant: “The most important thing in a diet is not just losing weight quickly, but ensuring an adequate intake of nutrients. It’s not just about eating small amounts. Or counting calories, eliminating foods, such as carbohydrates or sugars.” , without worrying about the difficulty of maintaining this decision in the long term or simply replacing meals with supplements.

The most important thing in a diet, he explains, is to make sure you adopt more conscious eating habits, because weight loss is a serious thing, and it must be done gradually.

But what are the risks of restrictive diets anyway?

When you resort to restrictive diets, in the best of cases, the person is unable to maintain the results and ends up suffering from the famous accordion effect: when they are unable to stabilize their weight. But there are much more serious risks, since restrictive diets can be the gateway to the onset of an eating disorder.

“In addition, there is a risk of nutritional deficiencies, metabolic and hormonal dysregulation, excessive loss of muscle mass, digestive problems, among other diseases. Aside from the psychological effects, such as obsession with food, guilt and shame, lack of perception of signs of hunger and satiety, and even loss of pleasure in eating.”

One of the signs that a diet is not working is the difficulty in maintaining it for a long period of time. In addition to tiredness, fatigue, dehydration, diarrhea or constipation and mood changes. “If in doubt, always consult a professional nutritionist, who will carry out a nutritional plan based on individual needs,” he concludes.

“The healthy alternative to restrictive diets is a balanced diet, with real, minimally processed foods and without excluding any food groups.”

Source: Terra

Ben

Ben Stock is a lifestyle journalist and author at Gossipify. He writes about topics such as health, wellness, travel, food and home decor. He provides practical advice and inspiration to improve well-being, keeps readers up to date with latest lifestyle news and trends, known for his engaging writing style, in-depth analysis and unique perspectives.