EAT clay, drink urine, go vegan until 6 pm then eat what you like. For people trying to lose weight or eat more healthily, there is always a new fad diet on the table – often with a celebrity endorsement.
In the unlikely event that you're tempted, beware. These particular ones are among the British Dietetic Association's "top 5 worst celebrity diets to avoid in 2015".
The list is slightly tongue-in-cheek, but it carries a serious message. Although fad diets can sound plausible, there is usually little evidence that they work and a risk that they could be harmful. A year ago, the BDA was warning about biotyping and gluten-free diets. New year, same old story.
There is, of course, a proven method to lose weight, but it lacks novelty and celebrity backing. In a nutshell: eat less and move more.
If that sounds too tedious, there is another way. It is becoming increasingly clear that your environment – from the crockery and drinking vessels you use to where you sit in restaurants – influences your eating habits. Adjusting these factors might sound almost as faddish as eating clay, but it is backed by mounting evidence (see "Forget the fads: The easy way to control your eating"). It is also easier to maintain than a fad diet. So not all crazy-sounding diets are nonsense. But do read the label.
This article appeared in print under the headline "A design for life"
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