Ahead of the onslaught of New Year’s fad diets, Be Real, the UK’s national movement for body confidence established with backing of YMCA, issued a warning against the damaging impact of quick fix fad diets on body image.
As the pressure to try the latest diet mounts, Be Real reveals people of all ages are feeling an unbearable pressure to conform to an idealistic body shape. According to recent findings from the campaign, a fifth of adults have skipped meals to try and lose weight and a quarter admitted to struggling to keep up exercise and diet regimes. Worryingly, these concerns about body image are also being seen in young people and children as young as five.
Denise Hatton, chief executive, YMCA England, says: “Young people are telling us that they feel under extreme pressure about how they look which is leading to an unhealthy relationship with their own bodies as well as physical and mental health concerns. Through Be Real, we’re calling for those in the diet, health and fitness industries to come together to promote long-term healthy living and wellbeing ahead of short-term quick fixes, enabling people to focus on feeling good and being healthy.”
Be Real is inviting people to join the conversation on Twitter and Facebook to help #fightthefad by identifying good and bad examples of diets and healthy eating and sharing them with @bereal_campaign #bereal and on at facebook.com/BeRealBodyConfidence.
For further information, resources and advice visit www.berealcampaign.co.uk.