Detox, macros, biohacking, alternate-day fasting, mindful eating… there’s always a new buzzword that dominates online algorithms and promises to fix your relationship with food.
And the allure is strong: a recent survey of 2,000 UK adults discovered that 44% of them wouldn’t research a new weight loss method before trying it. However, out of the 56% who have attempted a fad diet, 71% reported that they didn’t achieve their desired weight loss goals, and 11% even gained weight during the process.
So, dietitian Cassandra Lepore decided to do her own little study and asked people on TikTok to share the worst diet they’ve tried, receiving a buffet of cautionary tales about the pitfalls of chasing trends.
#1
Keto. Somehow eating fruits isn’t okay bc they’re “too high in sugar” but eating sticks of butter as a “snacks” is considered healthier?????
Image source: chefthalia, Maryam Sicard / unsplash (not the actual photo)
#2
Anxiety and being poor in college.
Image source: nenavideodiary, A. C. / unsplash (not the actual photo)
#3
when my mum made me do slimming world at the ripe age of 11😔.
Image source: lydiamai05, Jan Sedivy / unsplash (not the actual photo)
#4
I did a diet by a “nutritionist” influencer that was like 700 calories. She would specify stuff like “2 tbsp” of rice, “3 almonds” “half an apple” I was miserable.
Image source: bellahadidntt, Valentin Salja / unsplash (not the actual photo)
#5
The seafood diet. I sea food i eat it 😔.
Image source: sosadotcom_, Dan Gold / unsplash (not the actual photo)
#6
raw vegan. ate nothing but fruit & veggies for like 2 years. i was the girl in the math problem buying 20 mangos.
Image source: cxem.x, Leandro Crespi / unsplash (not the actual photo)
#7
i did an egg fast and on the third day i s**t myself in the car.
Image source: malinawinks701, Viktor Nikolaienko / unsplash (not the actual photo)
#8
cabbage soup diet. the smell of it will make me throw up now.
Image source: monachopsis101, Henrique Felix / unsplash (not the actual photo)
#9
Am I the only one who’s unhealthy diet was overeating.
Image source: megan.india, Kateryna Hliznitsova / unsplash (not the actual photo)
#10
One apple a day. It didn’t keep the doctor away when I went to the hospital.
Image source: incoggnito, A. C. / unsplash (not the actual photo)
#11
Thinking 1200 calories was a caloric deficit for me when I’m a combat sports athlete who turns out burns 2500-3000 cals total a day…
Image source: jasminelhodges, Getty Images / unsplash (not the actual photo)
#12
I used to count the calories in sticks of gum and be nervous the 5 calories would make me gain weight..
Image source: c696557, Joseph Costa / unsplash (not the actual photo)
#13
I’ve just always counted cals but in the time I was trying to eat 1200 I would take TEN grapes (yes, ten) and CUT THEM IN HALF so that I could feel I was eating more so yeah.
Image source: fiaa__22, Anh Nguyen / unsplash (not the actual photo)
#14
My mom told me I had to stop keto because I was too mean.
Image source: lindszbinz, Getty Images / unsplash (not the actual photo)
#15
freshman year me learned what “water fasting” was !! very very bad idea 😍.
Image source: angelica.rain, Maddi Bazzocco / unsplash (not the actual photo)
#16
The one after I found out what calories were and decided I didn’t need them.
Image source: sammigracerobinson, Laura Chouette / unsplash (not the actual photo)
#17
i literally went on an all potato diet. dead serious.
Image source: shylaroseo, engin akyurt / unsplash (not the actual photo)
#18
The one where you give yourself an irreparable relationship with food.
Image source: user838572722948, Farhad Ibrahimzade / unsplash (not the actual photo)
#19
i would eat 2 eggs a day and when i would start feeling hungry i would go to bed.
Image source: normaamndz, Greg Pappas / unsplash (not the actual photo)
#20
My friends and I all did the Special K diet in high school where all we ate was 3 bowls of Special K a day 😭😭😭 like WHY was that a thing, no wonder we all always felt awful.
Image source: missmadelinejane, Nyana Stoica / unsplash (not the actual photo)
#21
i went two months on liquids i did not eating single solid for two months out of my free will.
Image source: realyves, Maryam Sicard / unsplash (not the actual photo)
#22
probably the peak of my binge eating disorder when i would get mcdonald’s for dinner at 3am every night.
Image source: lindsmatte, Brett Jordan / unsplash (not the actual photo)
#23
“I don’t eat anything and then when I’m about to faint I eat a cube of cheese.”
Image source: kellybooboonumber2, Farhad Ibrahimzade / unsplash (not the actual photo)
#24
I had coffee for 3 days straight and by hour 40 I puked coffee.
Image source: ailsby_noa_, Rizky Subagja / unsplash (not the actual photo)
#25
My dad put me on a diet where all I was allowed to eat was carrots (I’m allergic) and tea w/ honey😁✊🏻.
Image source: neonoaki, Nik / unsplash (not the actual photo)
#26
Fish and a rice cake.
Image source: katiec1275, Karolina Grabowska / unsplash (not the actual photo)
#27
I didn’t eat on my period. All I had was water and gum.
Image source: loveletters4y0u, Hrant Khachatryan / unsplash (not the actual photo)
#28
Broccoli, tuna, and 100 cal bags of popcorn for 6 months.
Image source: idontw.annabeme, Tyrrell Fitness And Nutrition / unsplash (not the actual photo)
#29
The 2016 vegan YouTuber phase almost destroyed me 💀.
Image source: kwynnriess, Alexandra Andersson / unsplash (not the actual photo)
#30
Herbalife in college, lost 40 lbs, but I didn’t eat and it was sooooo expensive.
Image source: kaileysharp, Nature Zen / unsplash (not the actual photo)
#31
The tumblr ED “diet” in 2011 (ABC anything but calories).
Image source: myspace.net, Olga Kudriavtseva / unsplash (not the actual photo)
#32
one meal a day in college before graduation.
Image source: abbyy2040, Jakob Owens / unsplash (not the actual photo)
#33
✨water and air diet✨.
Image source: luv.meliii1, Fellipe Ditadi / unsplash (not the actual photo)
#34
One jar of Nutella per day coz one jar was equal to your daily calorie needs 😅.
Image source: alienait3, Mikael Stenberg / unsplash (not the actual photo)
#35
THE iu diet at the ripe age of 13.
Image source: onthexaxis, Louis Hansel / unsplash (not the actual photo)
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