A diet that encourages people to consume high-fat foods has been criticized for suggesting that it could "cure" diabetes and erectile dysfunction.
Simple as fat – a diet low in carbohydrates and fats that costs £ 99 a year – has been targeted by the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) for violation of regulations.
In a series of tweets, Simple as Fat said, "You can cure type 2 diabetes with real food, NOT more pills" and insinuated that following the plan would offer "a fight against obesity and diabetes from type 2 ".
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A second message asked subscribers: "Did your type 2 diabetes lead to erectile dysfunction?" Before suggesting that by joining the program, users could "fix it".
Following the claims, the ASA criticized Simple as Fat for "discouraging essential treatments" for health problems for which medical advice should be sought.
AAS said that any claim for weight loss through a diet should be supported by rigorous testing, adding that she had seen no evidence to suggest that the diet was effective as a weight reduction method.
The advertising control officer also pointed out that the NHS Council for Healthy Weight Loss recommends avoiding low-carb diets high in protein and fat.
"Many low-carb diets allow you to eat foods high in saturated fats, such as butter, cheese and meat," says the NHS.
"Too much saturated fat can increase your cholesterol and your risk of heart disease and stroke."
Following the findings of the ASA, Simple as Fat was ordered not to say that her diet plan was effective in losing weight.
It was also prohibited to state or imply that users could overcome obesity, type 2 diabetes, or erectile dysfunction by following the plan.
In response to this order, radio presenter Jon Gaunt – who claims to have lost five stones on the plane – went to the defense of Simple as Fat by writing a post on his website.
Aged 57, he said that "thousands of people around the world are living proof" of the success of this plan.
He also insisted that the diet "helps obese people lose weight" and "keeps people with type 2 diabetes".
You can find more information from the NHS on healthy weight loss and the danger of fad diets here.
L & # 39; Independent contacted Simple As Fat for a comment.