Harcombe Diet – critical analysis
The author
-Has no degree in nutrition, food science or equivalent.
-Is not a member of any professionally recognised nutrition or dietetic bodies.
-Has a self-disclosed history of anorexia/bulimia/negative association with food.
The diet
-Claims to lead to excessively rapid weight loss (claims in over 1 stone in 5 days), which can lead to formation of gallstones.
-Disputes basic theories of weight control/energy balance: Energy IN=Energy OUT. I.E. What you consume you need to use or you will gain or lose weight.
-Promotes the avoidance of whole food groups.
-Does not appear to include physical activity, which has a number of health benefits not just weight loss.
criticises core principles of healthy eating – consuming a variety of different foods from across the different food groups (breads/cereals, fruit & veg, meat, fish & alternative, dairy & fats).
-Is not backed up with scientific evidence to explain why it works – although there maybe further information in her book which I am not willing to buy!
-Makes Ms Harcombe rich as you have to buy her books, recipes, consultations, in order to follow the diet.
Think about it
The diet industry is worth a fortune – there are lots of self-proclaimed nutrition experts who want a piece of it.
According to the Atkins website the weight control nutrition sector is worth 2.4 billion dollars.