Celebrity nutritionist Rujuta Diwekar has expressed concern over the rising popularity of extreme weight loss methods, particularly among highly accomplished and intelligent individuals. Speaking ahead of the launch of her new book The Commonsense Diet—unveiled by actor Kareena Kapoor in Mumbai on April 2—Diwekar described the trend as “heartbreaking.”
In an interview with t2online.in on March 30, Diwekar responded to a question about client requests that she finds frustrating. She said, “I feel heartbroken when fully functional people, who are geniuses at what they do, adopt extreme methods to lose weight or get thin. They often turn to shortcuts or quick fixes, which come at the cost of their health and well-being. People don’t need to do anything drastic to live a healthy life—they just need to eat better.”
Reflecting on changes in public perception of food, Diwekar said that nutritional decisions have become more confusing, despite the growth of the wellness industry. “When I started in 1999 with sports science and nutrition, people still ate well even though the professions of dietitian or nutritionist weren’t as mainstream. Now, with the rise of diet apps and online experts, people are more confused than ever,” she said.
She also noted the evolving—and often contradictory—food trends. “Earlier, people avoided rice because they believed it was full of calories. Now, they eat rice for its prebiotic starch and avoid roti because of gluten. Even the brightest people ignore common sense when it comes to food, and they get swept up in trends. That’s what keeps people like me in business.”
On her social media platforms, Diwekar frequently promotes eating whole, nutrient-dense foods and encourages sustainable lifestyle habits. She often warns that limited knowledge and the desire for quick results can make extreme diets seem attractive, even though they rarely support long-term health.
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