Assessing Online Diet Plans: A Comparison with Australian Guidelines

This essay critically examines the prevalence of unreliable dietary information available online, contrasting it with the evidence-based Australian Guide to Healthy Eating. It highlights the dangers of following quick-fix weight loss plans promoted by untrustworthy sources, which often lead to nutritional deficiencies and health problems. The essay emphasizes the importance of adhering to balanced dietary guidelines that prioritize a variety of nutrient-rich foods, regular physical activity, and safe food preparation practices. By comparing and contrasting the recommendations of unreliable websites with those of the Australian Guide to Healthy Eating, the essay underscores the need for consumers to be discerning and to seek guidance from credible sources when making decisions about their health and nutrition. Desklib provides a platform for students to access this essay and other solved assignments.

Running head: HEALTH ASSIGNMENT
HEALTH ASSIGNMENT
Name of the Student:
Name of the University:
Author Note:

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Introduction:
According to the World Health Organization (2019), nutrition can be defined as the
process of appropriate intake of food according to the health needs of the body. The key to a
healthy body is determined by the cumulative components of healthy diet, physical exercise
and sufficient hydration (Mann & Truswell, 2017). The present generation is extremely
inclined to the internet and in order to satisfy the quest of getting the perfect body, people
heavily rely upon any unreliable source published online. The unreliable sources are often
published with catchy phrases and has the photographs of perfect model with a divine body.
Impressed by the ‘quick 7-day meal plan for weight loss’ or ‘what I eat to fit in my dream
dress’, young individuals end up consuming the most unhealthy diet plan that harms the body
and does no good. This paper intends to throw light on one such unreliable website that
assures weight loss within 7 days and is full of unreliable nutritional information. The paper
would critically compare and contrast the collected information with the reliable nutrition
website of Australian Guide to Healthy Eating. The paper would then discuss the strategies
that could be undertaken for a healthy eating and a healthy lifestyle.
Discussion:
The most authentic and credible website that provides correct information about
healthy eating in Australia can be mentioned as the Australian Guide to Healthy Eating
(Eatforhealth.gov.au, 2019). The website typically offers to the consumers a food selection
guide that presents the optimum proportion of the five group of nutrients that should be
consumed by individuals on everyday basis. In addition to this the Australian Dietary
Guidelines published on the website present an overview about the dietary principles that
individuals must adhere to, in order to sustain a healthy living (Eatforhealth.gov.au, 2019).
The first principle states that choosing the right amount of nutritious food and drinks to

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adequately meet the energy needs and remaining physically active contribute to the
maintenance of a healthy body weight (Eatforhealth.gov.au, 2019). The second guideline
mentions that individuals must consume a variety of nutritious meals and chose form the five
groups of nutrients (Eatforhealth.gov.au, 2019). The third guideline throws light on limiting
the food intake that comprises of saturates fat, added salt, sugar or alcohol. The fourth
guideline focuses on supporting, encouraging and promoting breastfeeding and the fifth
guideline urges consumers to prepare and store meals safely (Eatforhealth.gov.au, 2019). The
website suggests that individuals who are interested in shedding weight must restrict
themselves to a minimum number of meal servings. However, individuals who are taller than
average must consume one or two extra serves from the five essential nutritional groups. It is
important to note here that the extra serving must be chosen from the group of green
vegetables and fresh fruits. However, an unreliable website popular on the internet
recommends consuming small and frequent meals on an everyday basis for better health and
guided weight loss (Shape Magazine, 2019). In addition to this, the Australian Guide to
Healthy living recommends consuming bread or grain as two major meal servings in a day.
Contrary to the recommended dietary regime, unreliable health websites recommend
substituting carbohydrate meals with protein for an accelerated weight loss journey (Shape
Magazine, 2019). Also, it is recommended that the best diet regime for an accelerated weight
loss must include allotting one third of the diet routine to fresh green leafy vegetables (Pagoto
et al., 2013; Freeland-Graves & Nitzke, 2013). This should not be confused with the
perception that the diet should exclusively comprise of green leafy vegetables and nothing
else. In fact, it rather means that whatever be the meal serving, a bowl of pasta or two slices
of bread, vegetables should be included in the sides. The rationale for the recommendation of
an exhaustive amount of vegetables can be explained as restricting the serving of the carbs
and making the serving equivalent to a few kilo joules (Schuldt, 2013). In addition to this, the

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website also recommends the inclusion of lean meat or a meat alternative for vegetarian and
vegan consumers for one meal in a day and recommends the use of fruits for dessert or a
quick snack (Mann & Truswell, 2017). Contrary to the recommended dietary guideline,
unreliable dietary resources propose plans of weight loss that include protein shakes and
protein bars with intensive use of antioxidants such as green tea for unhealthy fat burns
(Shape Magazine, 2019).
In addition to this website also recommends the consumption of fish meals per week
and also recommends consuming low fat milk or yoghurt as a part of snack or two major
meals on an everyday basis (Eatforhealth.gov.au, 2019). On the other hand, unreliable
websites discourage the consumption of yoghurt and suggest that yoghurt comprises of high
fructose corn syrup a chemical ingredient that is similar to chocolate dip. Yoghurt and low fat
milk are treated as unhealthy junk and are strongly discouraged for consumption. In addition
to this, unreliable websites discourage the consumption of any form of beverage and
recommend green tea for its antioxidant properties (Shape Magazine, 2019). On the contrary
the authentic website mentions coffee with milk as an optimum beverage that can be
consumed by people willing to shed weight. It can thus be mentioned that the authentic
website recommends the consumption of diverse meals in the proportionate amount and the
popular unreliable websites recommend starving with minimal meal servings for a weight
loss. It should be critically stated here that the end result of both the meal plans would result
in a weight loss (Cullen et al., 2015). However, the weight loss guided by the authentic
dietary guidelines would result in a healthy weight loss and that resulting from unhealthy
dietary regimen would lead to weakness and make the body susceptible to deficiency
disorders.

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Conclusion:
Therefore, to conclude, it can be mentioned that the internet is flooded with a number
of unreliable dietary websites that suggest a quick weight loss journey. One might come
across a number of lucrative websites that assure weight loss in 7 days. However,
scientifically weight loss is a metabolic process and it takes time. Also, weight loss should
not be confused with starvation. Weight loss resulting from starvation leads to weakness and
makes the body susceptible to a number of disorders. One should therefore chose a diet
regime from an authentic website and then plan the weight loss journey.

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References:
Cullen, T., Hatch, J., Martin, W., Higgins, J. W., & Sheppard, R. (2015). Food literacy:
definition and framework for action. Canadian Journal of Dietetic Practice and
Research, 76(3), 140-145.
Eatforhealth.gov.au (2019). Sample meal plan for women | Eat For Health. [online]
Eatforhealth.gov.au. Available at:
https://www.eatforhealth.gov.au/food-essentials/how-much-do-we-need-each-day/
sample-meal-plan-women [Accessed 8 Mar. 2019].
Freeland-Graves, J. H., & Nitzke, S. (2013). Position of the academy of nutrition and
dietetics: total diet approach to healthy eating. Journal of the Academy of Nutrition
and Dietetics, 113(2), 307-317.
Mann, J., & Truswell, S. (Eds.). (2017). Essentials of human nutrition. Oxford University
Press.p.90
Pagoto, S., Schneider, K., Jojic, M., DeBiasse, M., & Mann, D. (2013). Evidence-based
strategies in weight-loss mobile apps. American journal of preventive medicine, 45(5),
576-582.
Schuldt, J. P. (2013). Does green mean healthy? Nutrition label color affects perceptions of
healthfulness. Health Communication, 28(8), 814-821.
Shape Magazine (2019). 7 Fake "Health" Foods. [online] Shape Magazine. Available at:
https://www.shape.com/healthy-eating/meal-ideas/7-fake-health-foods [Accessed 8
Mar. 2019].