Research finds widespread carbohydrates confusion

A survey of 2,000 people by YouGov, commissioned by Slimming World, has found that more than a third (37%) of people who have tried to lose weight have followed low-carbohydrate diets in the past.

The Big Carb Survey found wide-spread confusion around the food group, leading to many people cutting down carbohydrates from their diet when trying to lose weight. Some 81% of people surveyed didn’t know that carbohydrates should be the main source of calories in a healthy, balanced diet – which is a government recommendation.

Furthermore, almost half (46%) of those surveyed reported to have heard that ‘Fruit is full of sugar so should be avoided’, nearly one in three (30%) reported having heard that ‘All carbohydrates are bad’ and almost one in three (31%) reported hearing that ‘Carbohydrates aren’t essential for a healthy balanced diet’.

The findings showed just how confused people are about the role of carbohydrates in weight control due to conflicting and controversial messages coming from sources including the media (54%), the diet industry (30%) and social media (26%).

Any eating plan should give people the freedom and flexibility to enjoy a healthy balance of protein, carbohydrates, fat and fibre, and importantly it needs to be sustainable for the long term – without cutting out whole food groups or causing people to feel deprived. We are encouraging people not to believe demonising myths about the role of carbohydrates, and highlighting the need for accurate information, alongside support for maintaining healthy, flexible and sustainable diets.

Find out more about the research here: https://presspage-production-content.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/1756/carbfusionfinal-520176.pdf?209173