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Did dieting kill a slimmer?

Posted: 12/09/2009 at 09:57am by Rich Leigh, founder of Fat Free Fitness

I will try to keep this relatively short when compared to the way I feel, but to the point.

Any professional, us included, will tell you crash diets are not the answer. I’ve written as much in this very blog, set out our reasons and given guaranteed alternatives.

You may have heard the upsetting and unfortunate news of 34 year old dieter and bride-to-be, Samantha Clowe, who signed up to the Lighter Life 530-calories-a-day diet in a bid to lose weight for her wedding. Having lost 3 stone on the dangerous deprivation diet, she collapsed and died at her house, with coroners pronouncing the most likely cause was heart failure. Home Office pathologist Dr Alfredo Walker didn’t rule out the fact it could have been ‘related to her low-calorie diet and weight loss.'

I am not medically qualified enough to suggest a correlation between the two. But I certainly feel angry at the Lighter Life organisation.

The ASA (Advertising Standards Authority) and independent regulator Ofcom often respond with decisive action when a handful of complaints are made against what’s shown on our screens. Jonathan Ross and Russell Brand insult an actor over the telephone, and heads roll. Where then, are the authorities when businesses such as Lighter Life promote dangerous eating practise, which in this case has potentially led someone to their death?

Of course you’ll lose weight if you’re nearly starving on a Lighter Life diet, paying nearly £70 a week for the privilege of eating soup. But, this isn’t realistic. The person’s connection with the food and lack of exercise that got them to the point of being overweight hasn’t been challenged in truth, as there’s still the association with depriving themselves of the food they enjoy. Giving a 530 calorie figure to apply to every single person who wants to lose weight is ridiculous, it's unlikely to be even a third of the calories they need simply to function. This one-size-fits-all approach is completely unsound.

Jackie Cox, the obese founder of Lighter Life has a lot to answer for. But whilst she goes unchallenged, she can and will get away with it. The people who use the diet as a quick-fix also need to know they are part of a damaging cycle. There are experts out there, such as ourselves, who would happily give free advice rather than see more people sign up to diet plans only interested in the money they can make from them. Lighter Life isn’t the only one.


Jackie Cox, founder of fad diet plan 'Lighter Life'

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Comments

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I have not heard about Lighter Life diet plan, but I after reading your article I undertood how dangerous can fad diets be.

Posted by: Slim Weight Patch, 02/08/2010 at 10:51pm

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