A spokesperson from the Dietitians Association of Australia (DAA) reckon they “nailed it” and there was “no science” to support the diets named on the list.
Despite this, the Australian public appears to have a large appetite for both the Paleo Diet, which is promoted by TV chef Pete Evans, and I Quit Sugar, a movement popularised by journalist Sarah Wilson. Cookbooks penned by Evans and Wilson have become bestsellers.
But the BDA declared both eating plans “fads”, claiming the Paleo Diet (also known as the Caveman or Stone Age Diet) was an “unbalanced, time consuming, socially isolating” diet that could put followers at risk of nutrient deficiency and an unhealthy relationship with food.
Followers of the Paleo Diet believe in eating like our pre-agricultural ancestors as they don’t believe we have evolved to digest foods in the modern diet. Banned foods include dairy, grains, legumes, processed oils, sugar and alcohol.
Julie Gilbert, spokesperson for the DAA, told aww.com.au, there was no “magical bullet”to lose weight and the common thread with fad diets was cutting out food groups.
“The average age for the caveman was 25 years,” she says. “We live into our 80s so we need a healthy diet that is going to support a long life.”
Nevertheless celebrity Paleo fans reportedly include Commando Steve, Miley Cyrus, Jessica Biel and Matthew McConaughey.
Sugar Free, which eliminates all types of sugar and can include limiting fruit, also came under fire as it was deemed “almost impossible” to follow in its most extreme version and wasn’t balanced. The BDA did, however, agree that people should cut down on sugar.
Eva Longoria, Megan Gale, Tom Hanks, journalist Peter FitzSimons and Alec Baldwin are among high-profile followers of sugar-free diets.
“People are looking for a prescription,” says the DAA’s Julie Gilbert. “But you can eat a healthy balanced diet including all food groups and lose weight. It’s about cutting your portion sizes and getting outside and exercising.”
Topping the list of worst diets was “Urine Therapy”, which advocates drinking your own urine for alleged health benefits. There is no scientific evidence it works, warn dietitians. Adventurer Bear Grylls is known to have drunk his urine to maintain hydration during an extreme expedition on his TV show.
In fourth place was the VB6 Diet, meaning Vegan Before 6pm, as followed by the likes of Beyoncé. Experts explain this doesn’t automatically translate to a healthy diet and may result in followers binge eating non-vegan foods in the evenings.
In fifth place was a bizarre Clay Cleanse Diet, which includes eating a spoon of clay each day to “remove toxins” from your body. The BDA declared this diet, allegedly followed by Zoe Kravitz, dangerous with the UK’s Food Standards Agency issuing a warning about clay after lead and arsenic were found in clay products.
The list was compiled based on phone calls the BDA, which has more than 7,500 members, received over the course of the year relating to diets.
Pete Evans declined an invitation by aww.com.au to share his views on the Paleo Diet and its inclusion on the BDA’s worst diets list.
However, on his Facebook page he provided a link to our story – which has since garnered widespread follow-up by other media – saying, “Just prior to the launch of my new book into the UK “Paleo everyday” the UK version of the DAA have listed the Paleo Diet just behind urine therapy as the worst possible diets.
“I am slightly pissed off by the urine drinkers for taking out first place… Haha! Maybe next year we can beat them to top place, but not at their own game… ewww!
“Big thanks to the Women’s Weekly for helping spread the news to your readers!”
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