New fasting diet is super-effective but controversial

There has been mixed reaction to the CSIRO’s new diet plan today, with some scolding the organising for partnering with a diet company that encourages meal replacement shakes over ‘real food’.

The new Flexi diet advises Australians to use intermittent fasting and shakes to promote weight loss, with a ‘Flexi’ day to eat whatever they want thrown in at the end of the week.

The government body said participants in a 16-week trial of the diet lost 11kg on average and saw improvements in cholesterol, insulin, glucose and blood pressure.

While fasting as a form of weight loss has been criticised in past studies, the Flexi diet does not advocate complete fasting, instead using the shakes and vegetable dishes to keep calories low while still feeding the body.

“Flexi uses meal replacements as a convenient way to achieve nutritional needs while on an energy restricted meal plan,” CSIRO spokesperson told Starts at 60.

“This allows people to lose weight and attain the health benefits associated with this without missing out on key nutrients.”

But renowned Australian nutritionist Dr Rosemary Stanton questioned the diet’s sustainability for relying so heavily on the shake portion of the program.

“Will these people be expected to keep buying the products for ever? My preference would be for ‘real foods’,” she told News Corp.

Fasting diets have become increasingly popular in recent years, with programs like the 5:2 Diet advising people to abstain from eating for two days per week to lose weight.

However, Health and Wellbeing’s Sarah Hopkins says women in particular should be wary of complete fasting.

“Fasting is definitely not for everyone,” she told Starts at 60.

“In fact in most cases I caution against it.

“If there are any underlying stressors, it can exacerbate them. This is particularly true for females who have a very sensitive hormonal system to maintain.

She says fasting was linked to thyroid issues, which can do more damage to the body in the long run.

“When the body goes into a fasted state it sends a message to the sex hormones to down-regulate,” she says.

“This can result in all sorts of issues from hormonal imbalances and menopausal symptoms to a slowing of the thyroid.

“It increases the production of stress hormones Cortisol and Adrenalin, which can adversely affect many systems in the body.”

CSIRO Research Dietitian Dr Jane Bowen says the Flexi diet is a safe way to lose weight and still consume all the nutrients we need for a balanced and healthy diet.

“Losing weight can be challenging with results often limited by an individual’s ability to stick with a diet,” Dr Bowen says.

“The Flexi program offers a flexible alternative to traditional diets, which could help Australians to fit a weight loss diet around their busy, social lifestyles.”

Would you try this diet? Do you diet or eat whatever you want?