GPs Slam Fashionable Food Elimination Diets

A survey conducted by The Grain Information Service in 2002 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 have become 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 in the survey pointed the finger towards the 'questionable' and 'potentially harmful' advice given to women by unregistered nutritionists.

They also blamed celebrities for the development of this worrying trend towards self-diagnosis of food allergy/intolerance. Celebrities such as Geri Halliwell 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.
• 1 in 5 GPs thought self-diagnosis was dangerous and likely to lead to unhealthy and un-informed modifications to diet.

One of the GPs who took part in the survey said that some patients in this situation feel they have been driven to such lengths because they feel appropriate professional guidance is not available.

Another GP felt that as elimination diets are an increasing area of patient interest, they should be given greater priority in the NHS, and one even felt that it would be useful for a national body to pass judgement on heavily promoted diets to guide GPs in the advice they give to patients who request an opinion on a specific diet.