Senin, 02 Juli 2012

Six Weeks To OMG: Fears that teenagers could be risk from eating disorders

Six Weeks To OMG: Fears that teenagers could be risk from eating disorders

  • Self-published book has knocked the Dukan Diet from the top of the bestseller list
  • Critics warn the word-of-mouth hit cynically targets impressionable teenagers

By Hannah Roberts

PUBLISHED: 19:35 EST, 1 July 2012 | UPDATED: 02:04 EST, 2 July 2012


It is the latest diet fad, urging  weight watchers to soak in ice-cold baths, give up fruit and gulp down black coffee before exercise.

The self-published ebook, Six Weeks To OMG: Get Skinnier Than All Your Friends, has knocked the Dukan Diet from the top of the bestseller list and secured its author a seven-figure book deal in the US.

But critics say the word-of-mouth hit, said to be inspired by reality TV show The Only Way Is Essex, cynically targets impressionable teenagers.

Impressionable: Nutritionists and parents say the 'quick fix' diet could herald an epidemic of eating disorders (file photo)

Impressionable: Nutritionists and parents say the 'quick fix' diet could herald an epidemic of eating disorders (file photo)

Nutritionists and parents say the ‘quick fix’ diet could herald an epidemic of eating disorders.

Psychologist Deanne Jade, of the National Centre for Eating Disorders, said she was horrified by the diet’s premise. She added: ‘Teenagers will try anything. They’ll sit in a cold bath for hours.

‘This diet uses psychology against vulnerable young people and will encourage unhealthy competition to lose weight.’

Mrs Jade warned that sitting in ice-cold baths can seriously damage the immune system and said drinking black coffee stimulates the adrenal system, leaching minerals and vitamins from the body and damaging the thyroid.

Criticism: The word-of-mouth hit targets impressionable teenagers, it is claimed

Criticism: The word-of-mouth hit targets impressionable teenagers, it is claimed

‘You can lose weight in a million wacky ways. But you’ll put all it all back on again and you may have damaged your body, brain and appetite control for ever,’ she added.

Dr Ian Campbell, a GP and weight loss expert, said: ‘My first thought is OMG! This book is encouraging extreme behaviour.

‘Teens are very vulnerable to diet fads, especially quirky ones like this.

'The advice is hypothetically correct but in reality will have little effect on weight loss and some of the advice like taking ice cold baths can be very dangerous.

'This is a cynical attempt to sell huge numbers of books and I certainly wouldn’t recommend it.’

The book, written by a British sports scientist and celebrity personal trainer who goes by the pen name of Venice A Fulton â€" real name Paul Khanna â€" claims to use a mix of nutrition, biochemistry, genetics and psychology to help readers lose 20lbs of body fat and reduce cellulite.

Khanna denies specifically targeting teenagers and says he would never urge anyone under 16 or who was still growing to diet.

A spokesman for Khanna said: ‘The reason Paul wrote the book is to cut through all the myths about dieting and change people’s lifestyle for the better.

‘If people get into healthy habits when they are young that’s obviously a good thing, but that’s not the primary aim of the book.’

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In my youth cold baths were recommended for other reasons. As for the rest of it, I haven't read the book, and I don't intend to do so.

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I have never understood fad diets, or any kind of diets really. The simplest way to lose weight is to eat less and move more. You can eat whatever you like as long as the total calories you use each day exceeds the total calories you have taken in.Even a slight difference will result in weight loss, though it's likely to be minimal. I have lost a stone in about 18 months or so - I hope to lose another one in the next year. I will then be the weight I was at 16. Trying to lose weight rapidly is a bad idea.

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Kara, Essex - very true - less food more exercise is the only LONG TERM sensible weight loss method! I wish these teenages could get that into their heads, so much anxiety and unhappiness would be avoided if they did.

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Omg indeed, omg that anyone is that stupid enough to do one of these stupid fad diets! Reduce calorie intake and increase exercise it's not rocket science!

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Talking as an ex anorexic: this is nothing new.

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