Osteoporosis warning for fad diets that ditch dairy

“Clean-eating” fad diets that cut out food groups such as dairy represent “a ticking time-bomb” for young people’s bone health, according to a charity survey.

A study from the National Osteoporosis Society (NOS), said that 20% of people under 25 – a total of three million people in the UK – were putting their health at risk from completely cutting out or reducing the amount of dairy they consume.

The NOS survey, which questioned 2,000 adults, found that under-25s were the most likely to follow health, diet or nutrition bloggers on social media.  

See also: 13 milk myths and misconceptions debunked

The charity said concerns have arisen from the fad diets promoted by these personalities – and social media generally – and the future health of this generation’s bones could be at serious risk.

Without urgent action to encourage young adults to incorporate all food groups into their diets and avoid “clean-eating” regimes, we are facing a future where broken bones will become the norm, warned Susan Lanham-New, clinical adviser to the National Osteoporosis Society and professor of nutrition at the University of Surrey.

“Diet in early adulthood is so important because by the time we get into our late twenties it is too late to reverse the damage caused by poor diet and nutrient deficiencies and the opportunity to build strong bones has passed,” she said.

She added: “We know that osteoporosis is a painful and debilitating condition and young adults have just one chance to build strong bones and reduce their risk of developing severe problems in later life.” 

At the end of last month, the Food Standards Agency’s Food and You survey found that 46% of people aged 16-24 had an adverse reaction to milk consumption, whereas the national average was just 5%.

An article in The Times on 31 March cited a trend of bloggers such as Ella Woodward, who has more than one million followers on Instagram, spreading information that has put people off dairy.

Ms Woodward recommended the consumption of coconut water or almond milk instead of cows’ milk, which she claimed caused “calcium loss” in bones.