FamouslyFit.com breaks story to Daily Mirror and press concerning unsafe diet advice contained in the Channel 4 programme "My Big Fat Diet" and has also lodged a formal complaint with Ofcom after Channel 4 refused to make public the hidden dangers its glamorised 14 day “drop a dress size” diet may have on the participating viewers’ health and wellbeing.

The Channel 4 programme advises viewers to uptake a 2 week weight loss program in order to loose one dress size. The programme shows a group of overweight adult women adopting a 1200 calorie restricted diet for 14 days.

Famouslyfit.com has the following concerns about the approach and recommendations made in the “My Big Fat Diet Show”

The amount of calories required will vary from one adult female to another and will be based on their individual lean body mass and basal metabolic rate, and it is not appropriate to make a blanket recommendation to reduce to 1200 calories.

Based on our extensive experience, had the basal metabolic rates (i.e. minimum calories required for survival) for the females included in the program been measured accurately, it is likely that they would have significantly exceeded 1200 calories and such a restricted calorie intake represents a “starvation diet”

“Starvation diets” are well known to do damage to the metabolism and hormonal systems in our body. They also tend to result in cravings and “bingeing” when the “diet” comes to an end. This is referred to as “yo-yo” dieting, which rarely – if ever – results in long term consistent weight management.

“Yo-yo” dieting is well known to be associated with many health risks, including eating disorders, higher risk of heart disease, some cancers, depression and stress, osteoporosis, fractures and broken bones, and is something that should never be recommended

The focus of the program was on calorie reduction. There was no focus on healthy eating, ensuring that the right balance of macro- and micro-nutrients were being consumed. Whilst it is important to consume a certain amount of calories for energy, not all calories are equal. They have different physiological actions in the body and contain different nutrients. Many calories contain little or no nutrients, further starving the body of what it needs.

The focus of the program was totally on the reduction of calories to achieve rapid weight loss. There was little or no emphasis on change of lifestyle, and importantly no reference at all to the need to increase activity/exercise as part of a weight loss program to protect the metabolism and increase energy/fat burn

BBC Breakfast featured an interview with the programme’s presenter Anna Richardson the following morning. The breakfast presenters were not able to challenge Anna Richardson because there was no qualified nutritionist or health advisor present. As a result, the public will have been left with the impression that the “My Big Fat Diet Show” content was being supported and endorsed by the BBC as a safe and effective approach to weight loss.

Obesity is representing a significant health issue in the UK – highlighted by the Government Campaign “Change 4 Life” – FamouslyFit.com says that both Channel 4 and the BBC have not only a legal duty, but also a general duty of care to ensure that programmes such as “My Big Fat Diet Show” represent a safe, healthy, effective and balanced approach toward weight loss.

The Department of Health has released the following statement following the Channel 4 programme:

"Our guidance for a healthy diet is clear. It should contain a variety of foods including plenty of fruit and vegetables, plenty of starchy foods such as wholegrain bread, pasta or rice, protein-rich foods such as meat, fish, eggs and some dairy foods. Fats (especially saturated fat), salt and sugar should be consumed at a minimum. An average man needs about 2,500 calories a day and an average woman about 2,000 calories to stay the same weight.

"Physical activity is also very important for a healthy lifestyle - adults should do at least 30 minutes of activity 5 times a week."

"Our Change4Life campaign is helping families across the country get more active - over 400,000 families have signed up for information about eating well and moving more."

The following questions were put to Channel 4:

1. Do you believe it to be a safe and effective approach to weight loss for all adult females to restrict their daily calorific intake to 1200 calories as suggested in your programme? If so, what is the basis for this claim? Is this not "starvation" dieting, which is extremely harmful to the metabolism?

2. Is your programme promoting "fat" loss or "weight" loss? If fat loss, in what way does your calorie restricted approach target the metabolism so that it can burn more "fat" rather than starving the body and resulting in either muscle loss or water loss?

3. In what way does such rapid weight loss (lose a dress size in just 2 weeks) result in sustained weight management, especially when it has subsequently been suggested to us that after the 2 weeks you can gradually increase the calories again, but retain the weight loss? Do you believe that this is a safe and effective approach, and if so, on what basis?

4. In what way does your programme promote healthy, balanced eating? It appears to suggest that all you need to do is count your calories (demonstrated by having everything measured in 100 calorie portions) irrespective of whether the food itself contains any essential nutrients for the body.

5. How would you respond to our view that the approach you have promoted represents crash, or "yo-yo" dieting, which actually seriously harms the metabolism and hormonal system and makes it more difficult to manage weight in the future - indeed it can result in even more weight gain because the metabolism has slowed down.

6. Why was there no reference at all to changing lifestyle? In particular, the importance of increasing activity and exercise during any weight loss programme to protect and enhance the metabolism?

In response to these questions, FamouslyFit.com received the following Channel 4 statement:

The diet featured in the programme is a two-week plan, intended to kick start post-Christmas weight loss. The plan was devised with the help of an experienced dietician and focuses on controlling calorie intake and promoting exercise – it is not a longer term weight loss plan and this is clearly stated throughout the programme. The Channel 4 website carries further information about the diet and all material states clearly that a GP should be consulted if viewers are in any doubt as to the suitability of the two-week plan

FamouslyFit.com Experts have commented from within their professional capacities:

Dr J. Lidder, Clinical Lead, Galen Health

Calorie restriction is not the healthy and safe way to achieve and maintain weight loss. In fact it may cause the converse and lead to weight gain due to inducing metabolic disease syndromes later in life - not to mention depletion of essential vitamins and minerals, leading to problems such as vitamin D deficiencies.

The safest way for weight loss is firstly to educate a person on healthy nutrition and functioning of the body to ensure a healthy mental attitude towards weight loss which is a vital component in the process. Without this understanding and appreciation of the healthy aspect of the bodies function, the safe way to weight loss will not be achieved. It should be made clear to an individual that it is a lifestyle change rather than just a weight loss change.

In order to achieve the best long term results, a careful balance between food intake and exercise is needed. The misconception made by some professionals and individuals is that less food, or reduced calories, is what is needed to lose weight and change body shape. This can potentially be dangerous and cause, or exacerbate, many illnesses and diseases. The balance between healthy calorie intake, from a variety of different food groups/sources, and exercise, made of different aspects of cardiovascular and weight bearing, is the key to healthy body weight. In fact, in some cases, for some individuals, increased calorie and food intake during the day is needed..

Calorie restriction and many yo-yo diets will cause hormonal imbalances in the body and this will lead to metabolic diseases and illnesses in people. A typical example is the insulin and glucose spikes seen with some calorie reducing diets. These imbalances can lead to insulin resistance later in life and cause diabetes and other such metabolic syndromes.

Ann Mather, Celebrity Nutrition Advisor

“I don’t often watch this sort of program, but was intrigued given the work I had been doing with Famouslyfit.com to get across a clear message about New Year dieting. I was horrified by the approach – it was about as far as you could get from healthy, balanced eating. Balancing your calories to the needs of the body is important, but the program failed to do that. It made a blanket recommendation for all of the participants to reduce to 1200 calories a day. Firstly, this is too little to sustain any active adult woman, and secondly it is likely that these ladies were consuming between 2000 and 2500 calories a day. Such a big and sudden drop cannot be recommended. An obese adult female, probably consuming over 2000 calories a day, need only reduce by 300 calories and increase activity by 300 calories to create a differential of 600 calories for effective and safe weight loss. The extent of calorie reduction was excessive, resulting in starvation, and probably well below that actually required to support active daily living. The most important thing is to eat the “right” calories in the “right” balance and to understand the impact of different food choices on the health and functioning of the body.”

Daniel Singh, aka Gladiator Warrior

“It's that time of the year again where fads and magic weight loss tips are more apparent than ever. Although I believe in strength in numbers with the "diet diva's", I feel the show is portraying an improper image, with the use of extreme dieting seen as a positive way to achieve the goal of a reduced dress size. Rather than look for a quick fix with the 'Chalfont chubbies', they should really be addressing a lifestyle change that includes a less sedentary lifestyle and makes each individual more health conscious. It leaves high opportunity for viewers struggling with weight issues to potentially cause real damage to themselves both physically and mentally which is quite a concern.”

Lee Latchford Evans, ex Steps Star turned Celebrity Personal Trainer

“After successfully qualifying as a personal trainer I believe the best method of losing weight and staying fit and healthy is actually common sense. A very basic rule I tell my clients is think calories in = Calories out. I doubt that 1200 calories is enough for the average adult female. Obviously it does go into more depth than this and can become confusing but if you are eating unhealthy fatty foods everyday and not doing any form of physical activity such as walking, jogging, taking classes or even gardening or walking the dog then you are not burning off those unwanted calories and your body will store the fat. A healthy diet and exercise come hand in hand and one without the other just won't work.

You should start slow, take your time and allow your body to gradually adjust to the change in diet and the physical effects of exercise, this way you will have continual guaranteed success and not put the weight back on like most people do with fad dieting.
You only get one life so make the change, make it slowly and enjoy the new experience. Rome was not built in a day!”

Jenny Pacey and Wayne Gordon (a.k.a. Gladiators Enigma and Doom), International Athletes, Sports Models & Presenters, Exclusive Personal Trainers and Fitness Experts

"It's a new year but the same old weight loss information is filling
the pages of magazines and bombarding our television screens. We were particularly concerned when we saw 'My Big Fat Diet' a 1200 cal a day diet, drop a dress size in two weeks, without exercise; was shown as the best thing since sliced bread (wholemeal hopefully!)

As fitness and health experts and elite athletes we despair at weight
loss advise which negates too mention exercise. On a 1200 a day diet
weight loss may occur quickly; however this is largely due too water
and muscle loss.

During calorie restriction the body's metabolism is dramatically
slowed down, the bodies muscle mass is also reduced. When trying too
loose weight, inches, or fat; we recommend increasing your free fat
mass, or muscle. This does not mean turning into a body builder;
simply toning up means your metabolism is raised throughout the day,
burning more calories.

Incorporating exercise into your new year weight loss program as well
as healthy eating should be a long term habit, not a quick fix. Too
many people fall into the extreme trap of eating as little as
possible, until they reach their immediate weight goal, then return
too previous habits, and put the weight and more back on. This is
because the metabolism has been reduced; and is why yo yo dieting
occurs.

It takes some people years too put on the kilos of fat they want to
melt away in the new year; in order to reach and sustain a healthy
weight it takes time, and unfortunately hard work and continued
effort. But with the right exercise and healthy controlled eating its
achievable and you will never feel better!”

David Gentry, 5th Dan Black belt Martial Arts Expert

“The approach taken in this program is far too much too quickly. It is starving the body which is not healthy. The body cannot cope with this sort of restriction – going from well over 2000 calories a day down to 1200! The body won’t be getting the nutrition it needs, it won’t be healthy and won’t be able to fight illness and infection. This is a quick fix approach. What is really required is a permanent change of lifestyle, eating the right things, and a new way of life. It has to be combined with exercise as well. Crash dieting is no solution. I lost 2 stone and it took me 3 months. I did it the right way, gradually and safely. I have kept the weight off because I have totally changed not how many calories I am eating, but what I am eating”.

FamouslyFit.com is an organization totally committed to providing honest, informed and reliable advice to the public in relation to health, fitness and nutrition. Our aim is to motivate and inspire people to adopt healthy lifestyles, combining balanced nutrition with activity and exercise. We are genuinely concerned about health and wellbeing. As a result of our commitment to these principles, FamouslyFit.com has lodged a complaint with Ofcom.

The first programme in the 4 part series of the “My Big Fat Diet Show” was broadcast on Channel 4 Tuesday 6th January 2010 and was promoted on BBC Breakfast on Wednesday 7th January 2010 when the Presenter of the Channel 4 program gave a 4 minute interview.

We hope that in reading this feature you will receive a much more informed and balanced perspective on crash dieting and on the importance of balanced nutrition.