Nowadays, there’s an endless stream of information and advice around weight loss. But with so many diet plans out there, it can be difficult to separate fact from fiction or know which approach is best for you.
Here, we’ll explore the UK’s five most Googled diets as Dr Donald Grant, GP and Senior Clinical Advisor at leading online pharmacy and online doctor service, The Independent Pharmacy, shares his thoughts on each.
1. Carnivore diet
Average monthly search volume: 222,000
The carnivore diet consists entirely of animal products like meat, fish, and eggs, excluding all other foods. Some versions of the carnivore diet allow the consumption of dairy products, such as cheese or butter, but not all.
Some research has linked the carnivore diet with weight loss benefits, mood improvements, and blood sugar regulation. However, due to its exclusion of plant foods, which are rich in key nutrients, like fibre, the carnivore diet is unlikely to be healthy long-term.
Dr Donald Grant says, “There are no plant-based foods included in the carnivore diet, which could impact nutrient intake and lead to deficiencies.”
“This diet is easy to follow, despite its restrictions, as it requires no calorie tracking. It could also lead to weight loss if the individual maintains a calorie deficit while eating a strict animal product diet. Other potential pros include reduced inflammation and improved insulin resistance.
“However, this diet is not without its drawbacks. Plant foods are key for obtaining nutrients such as vitamins C, E and K, and without them, a person can quickly become deficient. A carnivore diet can also increase the risk of heart disease or major heart events, such as a stroke, due to animal-based products being high in saturated fat. The lack of fibre could also impact gut health, disrupting the microbiome. For this reason, I do not recommend carnivore diets.”
2. Keto diet
Average monthly search volume: 207,000
The keto diet, or ketogenic diet, forces the body into ketosis – a metabolic state where the body burns fat for energy rather than stored carbohydrates. To do this, the keto diet involves significantly reducing your carbohydrate intake and replacing it with fat.
Dr Donald Grant says, “A keto diet consists of splitting daily calories so that 70-80% is high fat (meat, fish, nuts), 15-25% is protein (lean meats, eggs) and 5-10% is low carbs (leafy greens). This approach strictly limits any sugar, processed foods, or starchy veg.
“While a keto diet can be effective for weight loss and useful in managing blood sugar levels, it can be difficult to maintain long-term. It may also lead to deficiencies, due to the absence of fibre and antioxidants.
“Interestingly, people adjusting to this diet may also experience a ‘keto flu’, which are symptoms that occur as the body is getting used to the change in eating habits. Symptoms include headaches, nausea and fatigue. Overall, while the keto diet does have some positives, I cannot recommend this diet as it’s restrictive, and cutting out some important foods could lead to nutrient deficiencies.”
3. Intermittent fasting
Average monthly search volume: 144,000
Intermittent fasting is a diet approach that involves periods of eating and fasting. Having become increasingly popular in recent years, many people claim its benefits for weight loss, as well as overall health.
Examples of intermittent fasting include the 5:2 diet and the 16:8 method, where people fast for 16 hours each day and eat within an eight-hour window.
Dr Donald Grant says, “Why is intermittent fasting so popular? Well, it’s incredibly useful for weight loss because it reduces daily calorie intake and increases fat burn. Intermittent fasting can also reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes by helping people improve insulin resistance and control blood sugar levels. Intermittent fasting may also boost brain function, helping to minimise the risk of cognitive decline.
“While fasting can be difficult to navigate in the beginning, I believe intermittent fasting is a great method for losing weight and gaining better control of health. For anyone looking to start intermittent fasting, a GP can advise further on recommended plans to ensure the approach is healthy and beneficial.”
4. Mediterranean diet
Average monthly search volume: 96,000
Designed to mimic the traditional eating habits of people living in countries bordering the Mediterranean Sea, the Mediterranean diet focuses on eating nutrient-rich whole foods. This includes whole grains, fruit and vegetables, and healthy fats.
Compared to many other popular diets, the Mediterranean diet is more of a lifestyle change. Instead of tracking calories, it’s focused on eating particular food groups in moderation.
Dr Donald Grant says, “Overall, I believe the Mediterranean Diet incorporates all the required foods to make a healthy, well-balanced diet. It’s a great method for heart health, helping reduce high blood pressure and the risk of heart attacks. It’s also beneficial for weight loss and gut health.
“With no real restrictions and an emphasis on healthy foods, a Mediterranean diet is something I can definitely get behind. To anyone looking to shed weight or adopt healthy living this year, this is absolutely one to consider.”
5. Low-FODMAP diet
Average monthly search volume: 68,000
The low-FODMAP diet was created by researchers to help people identify food triggers and improve symptoms of common digestive conditions, like irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).
FODMAP stands for fermentable oligosaccharides, disaccharides, monosaccharides, and polyols. These are short-chain carbohydrates found in certain foods that are linked with digestive issues. Following the low-FODMAP diet involves restricting your intake of high-FODMAP foods and slowly reintroducing them one by one to help identify which are causing digestive issues.
Dr Donald Grant says, “The FODMAP diet is used to help people suffering from IBS. [Generally speaking] over the course of 6 weeks, people aim to avoid FODMAP foods before slowly reintroducing them one by one to identify any trigger foods.
“While it’s great for uncovering the root cause of IBS or digestive problems, it’s not something anyone should look to maintain long term. Overall, I recommend this diet to anyone suffering from IBS, but wouldn’t advise this approach for general, everyday use.”
What other diets are popular?
After these five most popular diets, The Independent Pharmacy revealed that other most Googled eating methods in the UK include low-carb diets (60,000), gluten-free diets (21,000), the paleo diet (20,000), the 5:2 diet (17,000), and Atkins diets (13,000).
For further reading, head over to our diet and nutrition section.
Have you tried any of these diets before? What health topics would you like to read more about? We’d be interested to hear from you in the comments below.
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