Thinking of trying a new diet? Here are 4 questions to ask yourself before you do

We live in a society that glorifies dieting, with about 42% of adults worldwide tried to lose weight. Posts about diets and weight loss are becoming increasingly popular on social media, with an endless array of weight loss and diet trends.

When searching for diet advice online, you can become confused and overwhelmed by the often conflicting messages and misinformation.

Before you jump into the latest weight loss trend or extreme diet, consider the following four questions to help you make an informed decision.

1. Is the diet realistic?

Have you considered the financial costs of maintaining the diet or lifestyle, and the time and resources it would require? For example, will you need to buy specific products, supplements, or follow a strict meal plan?

If the diet comes from someone who is trying to sell you something, such as a certain weight loss product that you need in order to follow the diet, this could be a specific warning sign.

Much extreme dietary advice comes from a position of privilege and disregards food access, affordability, cooking skills, where you live, or even your culture and ethics.

If the diet has these kinds of problems, it can lead to frustration, stress, stigmatization and feelings of failure for the person trying to follow the diet. But the problem may be with the diet itself, not you.

2. Is there evidence to support this diet?

Self-proclaimed “experts” online will often make claims that target specific groups, known as Target groupsFor example, these could be men aged 30 to 50 with diabetes.

In some cases, evidence for claims made may come from animal studies, which may not apply to humans at all.

So please be aware that if the research results relate to a group that does not fit your profile, the results may not be relevant to you.

It takes time and many high-quality studies to tell us that a “diet” is safe and effective, not just one study. Ask yourself, is it supported by multiple human studies? Be critical and question the claims before you accept them.

For detailed information, please visit government websites or contact your GP or dietician.

3. How will this diet affect my life?

Food is much more than calories and nutrients. It plays many roles in our lives, and diets can impact our lives in ways we often overlook.

Socially and culturally, food can be a point of connection connection and celebrationIt can be a source of pleasure, a source of comfort, or even a way to explore new parts of the world.

So when considering a new diet, think about how it might affect meaningful moments for you. For example, if you travel, will your diet affect the food choices you make? Will you feel like you can’t sample the local cuisine? Or would you be put off going out to eat with friends because of their choice of restaurant?

4. Will this diet make me feel guilty or affect my mental health?

What is your favorite meal? Does this diet “allow” you to eat it? Imagine visiting your mother, who cooked your favorite childhood meal. How will the diet affect your feelings about those special foods? Will it make you feel stressed or guilty about enjoying a birthday cake or a meal cooked by a loved one?

Research has shown that dieting can have a negative impact on our mental healthand skipping meals can worsen the symptoms of depression and anxiety.

Many diets fail to consider the psychological aspects of eating, even though our mental health is just as important as our physical health. Food should not cause you stress, anxiety or guilt.

Before starting any new diet, consider how it will affect your mental health.

Getting rid of a diet mentality

We often hear that losing weight is the path to better health. However, we can prioritize our health without focusing on our weight. Constant messages about the need to lose weight can also be detrimental to mental health, and not necessarily helpful for physical health.

Our research has shown that eating in a way that prioritizes health over weight loss is associated with a range of positive outcomes for our health and well-being. These include a more positive relationship with food, and less guilt and stress.

Our research also shows that conscious and intuitive eating Practices that focus on internal cues, trusting the body, and being present and mindful while eating have been associated with lower levels of depression and stress, and greater body image and self-compassion.

But like anything, it takes practice and time to build a positive relationship with food. Be kind to yourself, seek weight-incl. healthcare professionals, and the changes will come. Finally, remember to find joy in food.

This article has been republished from The conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.