GPs Slam 'Fashionable' Food Elimination Diets (GP Survey, 2002)

Taking up 'fashionable' diets - which eliminate foods (such as wheat or dairy products) without any medical consultation - can be a risk to health.   In 2002 a survey conducted by GIS found that 90% of GPs agreed women are putting themselves at real risk by adopting unhealthy eating patterns without medical or qualified nutritional advice.

GPs believe that self-diagnosis and self imposed diets can lead to problems such as nutrient deficiency, osteoporosis, mental retardation and immune problems. 'Elimination' diets and other fashionable fads are becoming increasingly popular with women who want to lose weight. More than 40% of women have eliminated specific foods from their diet over the last 5 years, believing that they suffer from some kind of allergy or intolerance.

GPs are concerned that this dangerous practice of self-diagnosis is leading to unhealthy and un-informed changes to women's diets. Over a third of those questioned pointed the finger towards the 'questionable' and 'potentially harmful' advice given to women by unregistered nutritionists and unqualified health practitioners

They also blamed celebrities and the media for the development of this worrying trend towards self-diagnosis of food allergy/intolerance. Celebrities such as Geri Halliwell and Carol Vorderman have publicised their diets, claiming that eliminating food types such as wheat, dairy or fat has helped to keep them in shape.

The survey also found that:

• 87% of GPs believe there is an urgent need to improve women's understanding of the risks and dangers associated with long-term elimination diets.
• 43% of GPs have seen an increased trend towards self-diagnosis of food allergies and intolerances amongst their female patients in the last 12 months.
• 1 in 5 GPs thought self-diagnosis was dangerous and likely to lead to unhealthy and un-informed modifications to diet.