Why it is simpler to comply with tendencies than sound recommendation

“Many of the extreme diets seem exciting,” says nutritionist Tine Sundfør.

Intermittent fasting. Low-carb. Cutting out all ultra-processed meals.

Many individuals soar on new tendencies, whereas fewer follow the authorities’ dietary guidelines. 

Why are tendencies extra tempting than the extra established recommendation?

“It’s not very surprising,” says scientific nutritionist Tine Sundfør. “Many of these extreme diets seem exciting. They’re something new, like buying a new pair of jeans.”

Advice from researchers and well being authorities, however, can really feel extra just like the outdated pair of denims behind your closet.

“I understand why people feel like they’ve been hearing the same thing for years: Eat more vegetables, eat more whole grains, eat more fish,” says Sundfør.

The controversial will get more room within the media

Sundfør factors to a number of explanation why tendencies unfold so simply.

“Like everything else in the media, anything controversial gets a lot of attention,” she says.

That’s why a examine claiming apples are unhealthy will get much more consideration than a examine confirming that tender drinks are unhealthy.

And disagreements between totally different specialists are sometimes exaggerated.

Sundfør additionally notes that individuals with out formal authorisation as healthcare professionals can use stronger language and amplify guarantees.

“As a responsible professional, you can’t say things that aren’t supported by research,” she says.

The mind is triggered by fast reward

Christina Gjestvang researches train on the Norwegian School of Sport Sciences.

She believes that the rationale many want leaping on new health tendencies relatively than following extra conventional recommendation additionally has so much to do with feelings.

“Trends are marketed with strong, emotional messages, and they very often promise quick results,” says Gjestvang. “Even if it sounds too good to be true, our brain is triggered by the promise of an immediate reward.”

Some tendencies could be problematic

If a brand new pattern makes us really feel good, it turns into simpler to begin exercising. 

A way of group with others who comply with the identical pattern may assist.

That’s why a brand new health pattern is usually a robust motivator to start with, in line with Gjestvang.

But if it ends with us being disillusioned and feeling like we have failed, it may possibly as an alternative result in a vicious cycle of defeat. 

“Trends that promise quick results, or that demand very high intensity, can be problematic when people who are not very active or inactive are trying to build habits for regular exercise,” says Gjestvang.

“Can affect mental health”

Tine Sundfør shouldn’t be sceptical of all new eating regimen tendencies both.

Many of them overlap so much with the extra conventional suggestions from well being authorities anyway.

But she warns in opposition to taking issues too far.

“All kinds of extremism are unhealthy, whether we’re talking about religion, politics, diet, exercise, or sleep,” says Sundfør. “It can affect mental health.”

Takes the place of faith

Sundfør additionally displays on how many individuals as we speak are very centered on eating regimen and way of life, one thing she thinks could also be related to the occasions we reside in.

“There’s a lot of anxiety in today’s society. So maybe people try to focus on something they can control and believe in,” says Sundfør.

She believes that in lots of respects, eating regimen has taken the place of faith.

“People need something to believe in. That need becomes stronger in uncertain times,” she says.

The temptation turns into stronger

Sundfør additionally believes that researchers, healthcare professionals, and public authorities might be taught one thing from the way in which tendencies are promoted.

“We could probably work on making the message a bit more glossy and sexy,” she says.

Christina Gjestvang additionally thinks some train recommendation can really feel laborious to suit into your day by day routine.

“Different training methods often come with clear recommendations for how often, how hard, and how long you need to work out to see results,” she says.

And when you do not fairly succeed, it is easy to lose motivation.

“That’s when the temptation can be strong to try a trend that promises quick results,” says Gjestvang.

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Translated by Alette Bjordal Gjellesvik

Read the Norwegian version of this article on forskning.no