Misleading Crash Dieting in Social Media

EOI, 23 Nov 2016: These days there are a lot of articles online, advices on social media sites and brief notes on micro-blogging on crash dieting; articles which talk about weight loss like magic. These articles are often unscientific. However teenage boys and girls are so influenced by these that they almost starve themselves to death to attain the ‘perfect figure’. These diets are now called starvation diets.

Mita Shukla, Dietician Fortis Anandapur, says: “Anything heard or read should always be verified. Certain things are suitable for some people, unsuitable for the others. Occasionally these websites tend to misguide in general because all fast-weight loss diet charts cannot be viable for everybody. Teenage is a growing period; when proper guidance is required for a healthy body. Often crash diets have a very adverse effect, signs of which are shown at a much later age. “

She recommends a ‘modified’ balanced diet is for people who want to lose body weight, fast or slow. This means a diet chart is prepared according to the wants and needs of a particular body type. A diet chart can never be followed word to word; hence in this case the regular diet chart is slightly modified to meet the requirements of the individuals. Also, it is best to take the opinion of a dietician or a nutritionist instead of blindly following some random suggestion on the internet.

These days, there is a huge tendency among the teenagers to idolise Bollywood celebrities. However there lies a stark contrast between the kind of lifestyles both the sections lead. Among normal people, there arises a mineral and vitamin deficiency. Mita Shukla says, “Often young girls are admitted with tuberculosis because of crash dieting off the internet. Immunity reduces, they become more immunity prone. “

She also says there is nothing as an ideal diet. A balanced diet should include cereals like rice and roti. Regular helpings of vegetables and proteins (egg, fish and chicken) are necessary. Also intake of one fruit per day will help.ash Dieting and Social Media