Nutritionists advise against restrictive diets and emotional eating stigma

Nutrition experts are advising against highly restrictive diets, noting that severe food prohibitions often lead to failure and a 'rebound effect.' Nutritionist Ismael Galancho explains that strict restrictions can trigger cognitive restraint, where the brain increases cravings for forbidden foods, leading to anxiety and abandonment of the plan.

Lourdes de la Bastida from Hospital Quirónsalud Córdoba suggests that setting small, realistic goals allows patients to internalize healthy changes more effectively. Experts advocate for dietary flexibility, which allows for personal preferences rather than absolute prohibitions.

Regarding emotional eating, nutritionist Julia Fernández-Savater argues that eating for emotional or social reasons is a normal human experience. She challenges the notion that emotional hunger is a sign of lack of control, noting that food has always served social and comforting functions. According to Fernández-Savater, the context of eating is more important than the isolated behavior, and occasional emotional eating should not be viewed as an enemy to be eliminated.