2023-05-05 15:42:21
Today (May 6) is International Anti-Diet Day. And no, that doesn’t mean you can throw all brakes loose. It is mainly a day to point out to everyone the dangers of strict diets. We would like to explain to you that it is much healthier (and easier) to embrace a healthy lifestyle.
Internationale Anti-Dieetdag
Since 1992, World Anti-Diet Day has been celebrated on May 6 every year. This day was created after a then 15-year-old English girl committed suicide because she felt too fat. The pressure to conform to the slender ideal has become fatal to her. Since then, May 6 has been a symbolic day of remembrance for all victims of ‘the slimness ideal’, including people who have died of anorexia nervosa.
Weight loss is not direct fat loss
This day is also dedicated to a healthy lifestyle as opposed to a strict diet, because this often proves more effective in the long term. Losing a lot of weight in a short period of time is often not healthy at all. Keep up to half a kilo per week if you want to lose weight in a sustainable way. ‘A (crash) diet can even have negative consequences for your health, both physically and mentally,’ says dietitian Maartje Boot of Green Chef.
For example, it is good to realize that you mainly lose fluid in the first instance and that your body can even break down muscle mass. ‘Weight loss does not mean direct fat loss. It is not a sustainable way to lose weight and often the kilos come back on afterwards.’ And that is not conducive to your self-image.
In addition, strict dieting can cause stress or frustration, especially if you expect quick results in the short term. That in turn can lead to you losing less weight. Limiting your energy intake for a long time can have unpleasant consequences, such as fatigue and a slowed metabolism.
Adverse consequences of (crash) diets
Unfortunately, the ‘thinness ideal’ is still very much present in our society. Recently, figures from Statistics Netherlands on losing weight showed that 3 in 10 women with a healthy weight consider themselves to be overweight. These are shocking figures, says Boot, because that ideal image encourages many to follow a (too strict) diet, with all the consequences that entails.
‘If you have a healthy weight and go on a (crash) diet, this can be completely dangerous for your health. By eating too little or not getting enough nutrients, you run the risk of deficiencies and long-term health problems.’ Moreover, crash diets do not solve the problem. ‘These women especially benefit from improving their self-image: find out what causes this feeling,’ says the dietitian.
Instead, focus on self-love and a healthy self-image
‘And be thankful for what you do have: a healthy body that you can use to work and exercise.’ It can also help you to live a healthier life step by step. Make healthier choices by, for example, choosing whole grains instead of white grains or a piece of fruit instead of a cookie or candy. It also helps not to bring unhealthy food into the house, or to agree with others that you will exercise (together) and eat healthy meals.
“So the healthiest thing is not to diet at all and instead focus on the long term by changing your lifestyle.” In any case, stay away from diets that promise great results in a short time, Maartje Boot emphasizes. ‘With these diets you often don’t get enough nutrients because you eat too little or too one-sided.’
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