As many begin the new year with health-focused resolutions, a growing consensus among nutritionists favors sustainable lifestyle changes over restrictive dieting. Experts are increasingly cautioning against the pitfalls of fad diets and the potential for disordered eating, particularly after the often-indulgent holiday season. french endocrinologist and nutritionist Dr.Boris Hansel advocates for a more mindful approach, emphasizing gradual adjustments and a rejection of rigid dietary rules-advice outlined in his recently published book, Manger l’esprit léger (Eat with a Light Heart).
As the new year begins and resolutions are top of mind, many are seeking guidance on how to best approach their health after the indulgences of the holiday season. Restrictive diets, intermittent fasting, and eliminating entire food groups are common strategies, but experts suggest a more sustainable path to wellness.
Nutritionists emphasize that the most effective “resolution” may be to avoid making them altogether. “These resolutions make us smile, deep down,” says Dr. Boris Hansel, an endocrinologist and nutritionist at Bichat Hospital in Paris. “Each year, we make them. They occupy us for a few days. But it’s not that which will be decisive for our good health.” He advocates for small, gradual changes implemented month after month, fostering long-term adherence.
“A restrictive diet is only useful if there is a medical indication, where for a month, two months, three months, you need to eat differently. But this concept of dieting to lose weight or ‘detox’ for a given period to compensate for excesses and then return to a normal diet simply doesn’t work. If you lose weight because you’ve reduced your calorie intake, and then you increase your calorie intake, you will simply regain the weight,” Dr. Hansel stresses. He advises against drastic diets, mono-diets, and instead encourages people to “find a lifestyle that is as healthy as possible and as suited as possible to what you are capable of doing.”
The constant stream of dietary advice – one egg a day, less butter, more cheese, plant-based products – can be overwhelming. Dr. Hansel urges people to avoid these rigid rules, let go of guilt, and alleviate mental burden. He cautions against relying on apps to meticulously calculate every calorie consumed. “I like to tell people to eat with a light heart,” he says. “Taking the mental load off from time to time helps us do better.” This approach is particularly relevant as restrictive eating patterns can contribute to disordered eating and negatively impact mental wellbeing.
For further information, visit the Pum’s channel and Boris Hansel’s latest book, Manger l’esprit léger (Eat with a Light Heart), published by Michel Lafont.
