Social media is full of fad diets.

Whether it’s chugging a super juice to get lean or gulping down cabbage soup – there are plenty of depressing options.

While many people use these quick fixes to lose weight, one expert has said that your latest diet craze could be making you fat.

Wellness expert, Rachael Sacerdoti said fad and ultra-low calorie diets are teaching us poor and unhealthy practices regarding our relationship with our bodies.

The qualified personal trainer, with a degree in psychology, said 600-calorie-a-day plans are particularly dangerous for your health.

She explained that without changing our behaviors toward diet, then we won’t get the results we desire.

“We will simply be stuck in a vicious cycle of weight loss and weight gain which presents long-term detrimental effects to our health and wellbeing,” she added.

Rachael said there are five reasons why you must stop using fad diets, with one being – because you’ll only end up gaining more weight than you initially lose.

She explained that fad diets pay no attention to the role exercise plays, totally overlooking what a healthy, well-balanced lifestyle should look like.

“Generally, these unhealthy weight loss methods omit an exercise plan, decreasing muscle mass, rather than simply reducing body fat, which causes the body to slow down metabolism.

“This is thought to be one of the reasons why most people regain weight once they stop a restricted calorie plan.”

Rachael of It’s So Simple said lots of these diets promote restricting the number of calories you eat, with many presenting dangerously low counts – without taking into account the needs of individuals.

The guru said that ultra-low-calorie diets usually do more harm than good.

This she says, is because they teach poor, restrictive practices and can cause nutrient deficiencies, a reduction in fertility, poor gut health, and weaker bones.

For anyone looking to lose weight and make lasting lifestyle changes you need to get good foundations in place, she explained.

“Creating the lifestyle to support your goals is one of the most exciting parts of the journey.

“Planning your sleep, stress, relaxation time, relationships, as well as your nutrition and exercise is what unlocks the transformation.

“Weight loss is a much deeper issue that needs a multifactorial approach,” she said.

For most people though, she understands that our views on food need to be rested and rewired.

In most cases, Rachael explained that this would be undoing 30 or 40 years plus of behaviors and beliefs.

Having battled with her weight for most of her adult life, Rachael has first-hand experience with the struggles of being heavier and what effect that has on your health.

She added: “It is amazing how many people have absolutely no idea what they should be eating. 

“For changes to stick, nutritional education is key. We need to teach each and every one of us how to fuel our bodies efficiently. Quick fixes and fad diets simply do not do this.”

This story originally appeared on The Sun and was reproduced here with permission.