TikTok trends tend to take the world by storm, from ‘entire cucumber salads’ to being flipped upside down, many enjoy getting involved with the latest algorithm craze.
However, many social media trends can actually end up being dangerous, with some even leaving people in hospital – particularly health trends which can be centred around unsafe advice.
One of these popular health trends is consuming apple cider vinegar as a means of weight loss, fat reduction, and lowering your appetite However, numerous reports have debunked this theory, stating that it is in fact not helpful for weight loss and instead comes with cautions.
Fitness Coach Donna Callander, who has teamed up with Live Football Tickets to advise people against online health trends, claims there are very few studies which actually show a link between apple cider vinegar and fat loss.
According to the expert, apple cider vinegar is highly acidic, which can trigger irritation or damage to your throat if you drink it often or in large quantities.
She said: “It’s ’meant’ to reduce appetite because it creates a fuller feeling due to acetic acid being a short-chain fatty acid that dissolves into acetate and hydrogen in your body. There has to be a certain percentage that is in the apple cider vinegar in the first place to create that fullness feeling and the chances of this are slim.”
The Director of Offbeat Marketing Ltd and Fitness Coach cautioned: “Being safe on TikTok and any other social media is ensuring that you are very aware that influencers are there to do just that – influence and sell, that is their job.
“They will show you before and after challenges for example, but you have no idea what they are doing off camera.”
She also addressed the issue of AI, which is used for many social media ads to show various challenges such as wall Pilates, another huge trend at the moment.
She warned: “You need to be aware that the results the advert is showing is not a real person, therefore comparison can be dangerous. My top tips would be to always consult a doctor or qualified nutritionist before starting any new fitness challenge or diet to ensure that whatever you have chosen is right for you.
“Be aware that influencers and people doing the challenges are there to sell and you will never see the full picture – so take that into account before making any decisions. And finally, ensure that if you are looking at adverts and they are AI, do not fall into the trap of thinking that you will get the same results shown by the AI model.”
Other fitness trends Donna has advised against are the 75 hard challenge – which involves following a nutrition/eating plan suited to your goals, cutting out alcohol and cheat meals, completing two 45-minute workouts, drinking a gallon of water and reading 10 pages of a book every day.
Acknowledging that this could help people develop positive habits, Donna cautioned: “That is a dangerous road as people are choosing something to alter their food or their exercise regime based on social media as opposed to whether it is right for them.”
She also dismissed the 30-day gallon water challenge which she states could lead to ‘hyperhydration’ or ‘overhydration’ and fasting challenges as she advises people to seek professional advice rather than being influenced by others online.
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