An Dublin GP has debunked common weight loss myths shared by influencers - and has said they may actually be preventing you from achieving your weight loss goals.
Losing weight can reduce your risk of all sorts of health conditions, from asthma to heart disease and from cancer to osteoarthritis, Lloyds Pharmacy GP Dr Ali Zawwar explains. However, many people trying to lose weight have resorted to using dodgy advice about crash diets given by influencers.
He said: “I don’t promote following any kind of crash diet as these tend to slow down your metabolism, impacting your ability to lose weight. Similarly, I wouldn’t encourage banning entire food groups as this can lead to deficiencies in vital vitamins and minerals."
Dr Zawwar has debunked four of the most more common weight loss myths we see out there, and you can find them below:
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Carbs are bad
Eating too many carbs can be unhealthy and contribute to weight gain, but giving up on all carbs isn't the best idea. He says: "The suggestion that weight loss depends on cutting out carbs is one of those blanket dieting rules that just isn’t accurate.
“Don’t forget that lentils, beans, berries and many other high fibre foods that are packed with nutrients are also high in carbohydrates. Lentils, for example, are a great food to eat if you’re trying to lose weight as they keep you feeling full.”
‘Low fat’ or ‘reduced fat’ is the answer
“There is no legal stipulation on how little fat should be contained in foods labelled ‘low fat’ or ‘reduced fat’," the GP says. "Food brands can use this label simply because the product contains at least 30 per cent less fat than the full-fat version. The ‘low fat’ version may still therefore constitute a high-fat food."
This isn't the only reason why we should be wary of foods marketed as being low-fat. “On top of this, low fat foods often contain high levels of sugar. Eating high amounts of sugar is going to, of course, work against your weight loss efforts as it’s high in calories but has little nutritional value.”
Certain foods can speed up your metabolism
Apple cider vinegar, green tea and chilli are just some of the foods said to increase your metabolism by helping the body to burn more calories and aid weight loss. However, according to Dr Zawwar, there is little scientific evidence to support this. On top of that, many of the products purported to boost your metabolism are high in sugar and caffeine.
Coconut oil is the healthiest cooking oil
On social media, you often see lifestyle influencers cooking with coconut oil. It is touted as a superfood alternative to other cooking oils but it actually has 20 per cent more calories than butter and the same amount of saturated fat as beef dripping, Dr Zawwar says.
“This type of fat is linked to bad cholesterol and therefore can contribute to issues like heart disease and strokes. The same as butter, coconut oil is fine to eat in moderation. But please understand it’s certainly not a weight management aid.”
In truth, there is no quick way to weight loss. “In my experience as a GP, losing weight takes time and dedication. Aim to lose no more than 1kg a week. I always tell patients to focus on making a few realistic changes to their diets and activity routines.”
For more health and lifestyle tips, visit Lloyds Online Doctor’s lifestyle advice hub.
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