A WARNING has been issued for people to be wary of 'fad diets'.

Dieticians at Airedale NHS Foundation Trust are urging anyone seeking to lose weight to get advice from qualified experts.

The plea has been made – in conjunction with the British Dietetic Association (BDA) – ahead of the fourth annual Dietitians Week, which starts on Monday (June 12).

A BDA survey found that 40 per cent of respondents had tried – or considered trying – detox, raw food and juice-only diets.

But dietitians say some of the advice given can be harmful to health and they stress that the body can detox itself, without need for expensive products.

Laura Rowe, dietetics professional lead at Airedale NHS Foundation Trust, said: "Evidence-based nutrition advice is important.

"Following a diet not based on evidence may mean you are deficient in important nutrients that are key to good health.

"If you follow a very restrictive diet with few foods or an unusual combination for a short period of time you may lose weight quickly, but this isn't sustainable and you might experience harmful and unpleasant side effects.

"For the best advice see a dietitian, who will apply science and evidence to your personal circumstances to help you achieve your goals.

"At Airedale Hospital, dieticians help to assess, diagnose and treat diet and nutrition problems.

"We use the most up-to-date public health and scientific research on food, health and disease, and translate all this into practical information to help people to make the right lifestyle and food choices."

The dieticians treat a range of medical conditions and help people of all ages in settings including the hospital, outpatients clinics, GP surgeries, health and community centres and schools.

Tips to help avoid the fad diet cycle include:

• Keep a diary and stay aware of habits and problem areas

• Have regular meals, starting with breakfast

• Choose lower-fat foods, such as lean meat and lower-fat dairy products

• Fill up on vegetables and fruit at meals and choose as snacks and for desserts

• Watch your portion sizes

• Get active – aim for at least 30 minutes of moderate activity daily. If you can manage more than that, even better

• Be realistic about weight loss: aim to lose 1-2lbs (0.5-1kg) a week

• See your GP before attempting any weight loss programme, especially if you have existing medical conditions

For a fact sheet on fad diets, visit bda.uk.com/foodfacts/faddiets.pdf.

More details of detoxes can be found at bda.uk.com/foodfacts/detoxdiets.pdf.