Celebrity diets risk to health and fertility, say doctors

WOMEN who adopt the latest celebrity diet which demands cutting out certain foods could be risking their health and fertility, experts have warned.

A survey of 205 GPs found 90% said women put themselves at risk due to unhealthy eating patterns before seeking advice from a doctor or a qualified nutritionist.

It also found more than 40% of women in Britain have eliminated specific foods from their diet over the last five years, believing they suffer from some kind of allergy or intolerance.

While there are no figures available in Ireland for the number of people eliminating certain foods from their diet, a recent national study revealed one in three women here is lacking in calcium, more than 50% lack iron and the vast majority are deficient in folic acid.

The GPs said they believed self-diagnosis and self-imposed diets could lead to problems such as nutrient deficiency, osteoporosis and immune problems. Extreme or sudden weight loss can also cause the body to shut down the menstrual cycle, which can affect fertility.

More than a third of GPs pointed the finger at “questionable” and “potentially harmful” advice given by unregistered nutritionists, while celebrities were also blamed for the development of this worrying trend.

Stars like Geri Halliwell have publicised their diets, saying eliminating food types such as wheat, dairy or fat has helped them to alter their shape dramatically.

Dr Anne-Marie Tully, senior nutritionist with the National Dairy Council of Ireland, said many women cut out diary products and red meat in the mistaken belief they are fattening.

She felt the finding that Irish women lacked basic nutrients was a good indication people were cutting out basic food groups.

“People are just not getting the balance right. They are consuming plenty of calories but just not expending enough energy to burn it off ,” she said.

A long-term lack of calcium can lead to osteoporosis in later life. One in two Irish women is expected to suffer a fracture as a result of osteoporosis by the age of 70. Low iron levels can reduce physical performance, mental capacity and the body’s resistance to infection.

GP Dr Sarah Brewer, an expert on diet and nutrition, believes women need to be educated about the risks.