Low-carb dieters influenced by information online rather than experts – study

People following low-carbohydrate diets often do not take a multivitamin, research found. Picture: Nick Ansell/PA

People following low-carbohydrate diets are more influenced by information they find online than by health professionals, which could put them at risk of “nutritional inadequacies”, research suggests.

Low and reduced-carbohydrate diets, which see followers limit intake of foods such as bread, pasta, cakes and sweets, have increased in popularity in recent years as a way to lose weight and as a possible strategy for managing type 2 diabetes.