Doctor warns ‘dangerous’ TikTok weight loss hack should be ‘left in the 70s’
The Coffee Loophole diet has been taking TikTok by storm, but a doctor highlighted the major 'red flag'
by Samantha Leathers · The MirrorInfluencers on TikTok are touting a new diet trend that they claim has helped them shed up to 30lbs in just weeks by making a simple tweak to their morning coffee. However, one expert is sounding the alarm about the potential dangers of this fad.
Dubbed the Coffee Loophole diet, it began with influencers sharing that they'd slimmed down by sipping black coffee instead of eating when hunger struck. The craze quickly escalated as more content creators suggested adding various ingredients like cinnamon, cayenne pepper, apple cider vinegar, and lemon juice to black coffee to accelerate weight loss.
Accompanied by compelling before-and-after photos, these assertions seem persuasive, but Dr Masarat Jilani, from Jude, has issued a stark warning that such practices could "wreak havoc on your health and well-being". While acknowledging that black coffee can suppress appetite, Dr Jilani pointed out a major "red flag" for any health trend: claims that it helps you ignore hunger pangs.
Dr Jilani stressed: "Hunger pangs are your body's way of signalling that it needs nourishment. If you ignore these signals, you deprive your body of the energy it needs to function properly."
A health expert has raised the alarm on a risky diet trend, warning: "Over time, this will lead to fatigue, brain fog, and mood swings as your blood sugar levels drop. Responding to hunger pangs with coffee (even if it’s full of healthy spices) instead of food is a diet hack that belongs in 1974 and has no place in 2024."
She cautioned that giving into such dietary fads could be tarnishing the edges of disordered eating, not to mention being an express ticket to falling short on essential nutrients, crashing hydration levels or even irritating your bladder thanks to an overindulgence in black coffee's pitfalls. Ditching meals for liquid beans doesn't pay off, as she points out that swapping eats for coffee can brew up a storm of problems like nutrient deficiencies, dehydration, and bladder irritation.
Dr Jilani recommended: "A low-fat Greek yoghurt, a boiled egg with a slice of wholemeal toast, or hummus with some chopped veggies are far better options."