Each new year, many people resolve to change their diets, and some decide explicitly to lose weight. But going too hard on our new regimens \u2013 and in particular, \u201cdiet stacking\u201d, where multiple diet strategies are deployed at the same time \u2013 can be seriously bad for our health, according to a new study from researchers in Australia.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe know that individually, many diets have merit,\u201d said Dr Caroline Tuck, senior lecturer in dietetics at Swinburne University of Technology and senior author of the study, in a statement<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u201cBut stacking them can amplify risks such as nutritional inadequacies,\u201d she cautioned. \u201cFor example, if someone is vegetarian and planning to start a low FODMAP (fermentable carbohydrate) diet to manage gut symptoms, they\u2019ll find that many vegetarian protein sources are high in FODMAPs. So, when combining these two diets, protein intake requires careful planning.\u201d<\/p>\n There are many reasons that someone might restrict their diet \u2013 in fact, the main one considered in the new paper is management of gastrointestinal disorders such as inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) or celiac disease<\/a>. In those situations, with proper medical guidance, following a particular regimen \u2013 or even more than one simultaneously \u2013 is fine, Tuck noted.<\/p>\n \u201cBut in other cases, people may accumulate diet strategies by layering them with additional restrictions such as gluten-free, low-fat, or \u2018clean eating\u2019 without considering whether they\u2019re right for them or discontinuing diets that are ineffective,\u201d she said. \u201cThis can potentially worsen symptoms, reduce diet quality, precipitate disordered eating and result in feeling physically and mentally drained.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOver the long term this could lead to chronic diseases like heart disease, type 2 diabetes, certain cancers, obesity, weakened immunity, poor mental health, osteoporosis and fatigue.\u201d<\/p>\n People with gastrointestinal problems are already predisposed to nutritional deficiencies, the paper points out, and not only because you tend to avoid eating a varied diet when half of it could cause you extreme abdominal pain. IBD, for example, can increase the body\u2019s energy production and protein turnover rates; celiac disease, meanwhile, makes it hard for the body to absorb nutrients from food in general.<\/p>\n So, while \u201cmedicating\u201d with a change in diet<\/a> can be beneficial, adding too many restrictions can make a difficult nutritional situation worse.<\/p>\n These gastrointestinal diseases are also a risk factor for triggering \u2013 and nurturing \u2013 disordered eating and eating disorders like anorexia or orthorexia, the paper points out. In fact, many of the same factors behind habits like diet stacking also lend themselves to disordered eating. \u201cDiet stacking, especially when self-imposed and not undertaken in collaboration with a dietitian, is likely to be a significant risk factor for the development of eating disorders,\u201d the authors write. \u201cGiven this, screening for disordered eating when individuals engage in diet stacking is recommended.\u201d<\/p>\n Even worse is the case where someone is so convinced of the effectiveness of their diet stack that they stop treating their condition with real medication at all. \u201cHealthcare professionals are posed with the challenges of convincing patients that diet is but one part of the equation to improved health,\u201d the paper notes \u2013 and that \u201coveremphasis on diet could prove to be detrimental to their recovery.\u201d<\/p>\n Despite all this, Tuck says it\u2019s good that more people are becoming interested in the role of diet in managing their health and wellbeing<\/a>. But she warns against getting too obsessed with it all, advising against unnecessary dietary restriction or diet stacking.<\/p>\n \u201cGiven the rise in use of diet as therapy,\u00a0combined with\u00a0diet culture messaging on\u00a0social media, diet\u00a0stacking is increasing,\u201d said Tuck.\u202f\u201dProper education and guidance\u00a0with an Accredited Practising Dietitian\u00a0ensures that\u00a0diet strategies are\u00a0used in a safe and effective way.\u201d<\/p>\n The paper is published in the Journal of Gastroenterology and Hepatology Open<\/a>.<\/p>\n If you or someone you know might have an eating disorder, help and support are available in the US at nationaleatingdisorders.org<\/a>. In the UK, help and support are available at beateatingdisorders.org.uk<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Each new year, many people resolve to change their diets, and some decide explicitly to lose weight. 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