Editorial | Rely on science, not fads, for weight loss
A study found that 40 per cent of Hongkongers have tried alternative diets. But many promise more than they deliver and can be detrimental
The global surge in the number of people who are overweight or obese has rightly focused attention on the need to adopt a healthy lifestyle.
But at a time when we are increasingly bombarded with advice on what to eat and drink, many turn to fad diets in a bid to lose weight or gain other claimed health benefits.
A study conducted by the Hong Kong Nutrition Association in recent months suggests a surprisingly high proportion – about 40 per cent – of Hong Kong people have tried such diets.
More than half of those that did opted for intermittent fasting, which involves skipping meals, and 43 per cent adopted a low-carbohydrate diet.
Their motivations were primarily a desire to lose weight or to be healthier. But the association has warned, with good reason, that such diets are often not backed by sufficient scientific evidence and can be counterproductive, leading to other health problems.
It is worrying that more than half of the respondents had used unverified information on social media. More than 40 per cent sought advice from friends or relatives.