ADVERTISEMENT

Detox, macros, biohacking, alternate-day fasting, mindful eating... there's always a new buzzword that dominates online algorithms and promises to fix your relationship with food.

And the allure is strong: a recent survey of 2,000 UK adults discovered that 44% of them wouldn’t research a new weight loss method before trying it. However, out of the 56% who have attempted a fad diet, 71% reported that they didn’t achieve their desired weight loss goals, and 11% even gained weight during the process.

So, dietitian Cassandra Lepore decided to do her own little study and asked people on TikTok to share the worst diet they've tried, receiving a buffet of cautionary tales about the pitfalls of chasing trends.

RELATED:
    #2

    Three sticks of butter on a wooden board, representing unhealthy diets. Keto. Somehow eating fruits isn’t okay bc they’re “too high in sugar” but eating sticks of butter as a “snacks” is considered healthier?????

    chefthalia , Maryam Sicard / unsplash (not the actual photo) Report

    "Probably the most common misconception about dieting is the 'eat kale and move' approach," Iris Gorfinkel, M.D. general practitioner, medical researcher, and the founder of PrimeHealth Family Practice and Clinical Research, told Bored Panda.

    "That's actually what people are told. And what does that do? It makes them feel bad about themselves because they ask, 'Well if it's that easy, how come I haven't been able to do it?' It leads to depression and increases obesity by as much as 50%. It's incredible."

    #3

    Person eating an orange, squinting at the sour taste, illustrating a reaction to a challenging diet plan. raw vegan. ate nothing but fruit & veggies for like 2 years. i was the girl in the math problem buying 20 mangos.

    cxem.x , Leandro Crespi / unsplash (not the actual photo) Report

    ADVERTISEMENT

    "People often don't realize there are over 140 different genes that control and influence weight," Gorfinkel said. "Of course, epigenetic things influence whether or not those genes get expressed, but I think this whole terrible mix starts with people not believing enough in themselves."

    Which, again, is largely our collective doing. "Pictures of so-called beautiful people — often unrealistically thin — are constantly shown in the media [and everywhere around us], and the messaging is, 'Eat kale and move', 'What's wrong with you?'"

    The doctor believes this is actually the basis of the problem. And it's hard to argue. A survey of 4,250 Good Housekeeping readers discovered that 48% of them disagree or strongly disagree that they are happy with the way their bodies look and feel and 17% said they'd shave years off their lives in exchange for their ideal body.

    #5

    Almonds casting shadows on a surface, highlighting elements of worst diets. I did a diet by a “nutritionist” influencer that was like 700 calories. She would specify stuff like “2 tbsp” of rice, “3 almonds” “half an apple” I was miserable.

    bellahadidntt , Valentin Salja / unsplash (not the actual photo) Report

    Add photo comments
    POST
    StrangeOne
    Community Member
    19 hours ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I swear these pseudo "nutritionists on youtube don't actually follow the horrible advice they give.

    View more commentsArrow down menu
    ADVERTISEMENT
    #6

    Squeezing lemon over spinach in a measuring cup, representing extreme diet choices. when my mum made me do slimming world at the ripe age of 11😔.

    lydiamai05 , Jan Sedivy / unsplash (not the actual photo) Report

    Add photo comments
    POST
    Always Tired
    Community Member
    21 hours ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Your mum shouldn't have made you do it so young. While eating healthily is important, you need decent food when you're growing.

    View more commentsArrow down menu
    #8

    A person eating a bowl of broth with vegetables, representing a diet. cabbage soup diet. the smell of it will make me throw up now.

    monachopsis101 , Henrique Felix / unsplash (not the actual photo) Report

    Add photo comments
    POST
    Tyranamar Seuss
    Community Member
    21 hours ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Ah, we did this as a family when I was a child. What I remembered was that we were pretty hungry and our farts smelled awful. And we quit after only a few days.

    View more commentsArrow down menu
    ADVERTISEMENT
    #9

    Person eating a green apple, symbolizing diet choices, with greenery in the background. One apple a day. It didn’t keep the doctor away when I went to the hospital.

    incoggnito , A. C. / unsplash (not the actual photo) Report

    #10

    Am I the only one who’s unhealthy diet was overeating.

    megan.india Report

    #11

    Two women practicing martial arts in a gym, wearing white uniforms, focused on a training session. Thinking 1200 calories was a caloric deficit for me when I’m a combat sports athlete who turns out burns 2500-3000 cals total a day…

    jasminelhodges , Getty Images / unsplash (not the actual photo) Report

    Add photo comments
    POST
    Warren Peece
    Community Member
    7 hours ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    If you use 2500-3000 a day, then 1200 calories a day was a caloric deficit for you. What is your point?

    View more commentsArrow down menu
    ADVERTISEMENT
    #12

    Woman with blue lipstick pulling gum from teeth, illustrating worst diets concept. I used to count the calories in sticks of gum and be nervous the 5 calories would make me gain weight..

    c696557 , Joseph Costa / unsplash (not the actual photo) Report

    Add photo comments
    POST
    Huddo's sister
    Community Member
    15 hours ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    My mum went through a calorie counting period. She would only have half a cup of coffee because she didn't want the calories of a full one. This was when she was about 17/18 or so, before I was born.

    View more commentsArrow down menu
    #13

    A bowl of black grapes on a white plate, highlighting unhealthy diet options. I’ve just always counted cals but in the time I was trying to eat 1200 I would take TEN grapes (yes, ten) and CUT THEM IN HALF so that I could feel I was eating more so yeah.

    fiaa__22 , Anh Nguyen / unsplash (not the actual photo) Report

    Add photo comments
    POST
    Ace
    Community Member
    13 hours ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    "A pie cut into small slices has fewer calories than a whole pie" - Garfield

    View more commentsArrow down menu
    #15

    Person sleeping on a bed under a gray blanket, representing the exhaustion from the worst diets. i would eat 2 eggs a day and when i would start feeling hungry i would go to bed.

    normaamndz , Greg Pappas / unsplash (not the actual photo) Report

    ADVERTISEMENT
    #17

    Woman looking displeased, symbolizing frustration over failed diet experiences in a kitchen setting. My mom told me I had to stop keto because I was too mean.

    lindszbinz , Getty Images / unsplash (not the actual photo) Report

    Add photo comments
    POST
    StrangeOne
    Community Member
    20 hours ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    So that's why my keto pushing, now ex-friend was so mean to me on our first meet up in 15 years.

    View more commentsArrow down menu
    #19

    Person dining with salad, using fork and knife, highlighting diet choices. The one where you give yourself an irreparable relationship with food.

    user838572722948 , Farhad Ibrahimzade / unsplash (not the actual photo) Report

    Add photo comments
    POST
    Michael P.
    Community Member
    17 hours ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    If you ever watch "My 600-Ib Life" on TLC, the people on that show have an unhealthy relationship with food. Many of them had traumatic experiences growing up and so turn to food for comfort. They often have large meals that can feed a family of four.

    #20

    Bowl of cereal with milk, illustrating a questionable diet choice. My friends and I all did the Special K diet in high school where all we ate was 3 bowls of Special K a day 😭😭😭 like WHY was that a thing, no wonder we all always felt awful.

    missmadelinejane , Nyana Stoica / unsplash (not the actual photo) Report

    Add photo comments
    POST
    StrangeOne
    Community Member
    19 hours ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Never was a cornflake girl. Thought it was a good solution hanging with the raisin girls.

    View more commentsArrow down menu
    ADVERTISEMENT
    See Also on Bored Panda
    #21

    Green smoothie being poured from a blender into a glass, related to worst diets theme. i went two months on liquids i did not eating single solid for two months out of my free will.

    realyves , Maryam Sicard / unsplash (not the actual photo) Report

    Add photo comments
    POST
    StrangeOne
    Community Member
    19 hours ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    There are some days I just feel like drinking smoothies and coffee, and I don't want to eat anything that requires moving my jaw around.

    View more commentsArrow down menu
    #22

    Fast food meal on a table, including fries, a burger, and a Big Mac box, illustrating unhealthy diet choices. probably the peak of my binge eating disorder when i would get mcdonald’s for dinner at 3am every night.

    lindsmatte , Brett Jordan / unsplash (not the actual photo) Report

    Add photo comments
    POST
    #23

    Hand holding iced coffee next to an open book, representing worst diets concept. I had coffee for 3 days straight and by hour 40 I puked coffee.

    ailsby_noa_ , Rizky Subagja / unsplash (not the actual photo) Report

    Add photo comments
    POST
    Petra Peitsch
    Community Member
    19 hours ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I did this once but not for weight-loss. Literally I coiuldn''t eat anything, without throwing up right away. Affter weeks, it turned out, I have Pancreatitis caused by gallstones.After 2 weeks in hospital, from what 1 was in intensive care, it took like half a year to recover at some level.Guys, I really advice you to forget about any energy-drink.

    View more commentsArrow down menu
    #24

    Fork dipping cheese into honey, surrounded by grapes and walnuts, illustrating unusual diet choices. “I don’t eat anything and then when I’m about to faint I eat a cube of cheese.”

    kellybooboonumber2 , Farhad Ibrahimzade / unsplash (not the actual photo) Report

    Add photo comments
    POST
    Mahayana
    Community Member
    21 hours ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    That a quote from the devil wears Prada if I’m not mistaken!

    View more commentsArrow down menu
    ADVERTISEMENT
    See Also on Bored Panda
    #25

    Carrots on a wooden board, possibly part of a diet plan. My dad put me on a diet where all I was allowed to eat was carrots (I’m allergic) and tea w/ honey😁✊🏻.

    neonoaki , Nik / unsplash (not the actual photo) Report

    ADVERTISEMENT
    See Also on Bored Panda
    #31

    A bowl of fresh strawberries on a dark surface, related to worst diets. The tumblr ED “diet” in 2011 (ABC anything but calories).

    myspace.net , Olga Kudriavtseva / unsplash (not the actual photo) Report

    Add photo comments
    POST
    LakotaWolf (she/her)
    Community Member
    13 hours ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    For those wondering, this one is EXTREMELY dangerous: https://www.theforkclinic.com/post/abc-diet-dangers-alternatives-ana-boot-camp-diet

    #32

    one meal a day in college before graduation.

    abbyy2040 Report

    Add photo comments
    POST
    DeoManus Argentem
    Community Member
    4 hours ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I only eat one meal a day, for around the last ten years or so. Not to save money or lose weight, though. Started out of necessity due to time constraints while I was working because I just didn't have time, and if I had a few minutes I didn't want to rush - much preferred having a large leisurely meal when I got home. I'm 41 and active, and still do this because I like it and don't get hungry during the day, even though I've been retired for five years now and have plenty of time for eating or whatever.

    View more commentsArrow down menu
    ADVERTISEMENT
    See Also on Bored Panda
    #35

    Jar of Nutella with lid off, representing a possible worst diet shared by people. One jar of Nutella per day coz one jar was equal to your daily calorie needs 😅.

    alienait3 , Mikael Stenberg / unsplash (not the actual photo) Report

    Add photo comments
    POST
    Tyranamar Seuss
    Community Member
    21 hours ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Gross. Just eating a jar of Nutella. Yuck. We do crazy things to ourselves.

    View more commentsArrow down menu

    Note: this post originally had 54images. It’s been shortened to the top 35 images based on user votes.

    Ic_polls

    Poll Question

    What do you find to be the most challenging aspect of dieting?

    Restrictive food choices

    Social pressure

    Lack of variety

    Feeling constantly hungry