11th June 2019
THE CABBAGE SOUP DIET, THE BABY FOOD DIET, PRANCERCISE AND FACE YOGA, ARE AMONG A LIST OF THE MOST LUDICROUS DIET AND FITNESS FADS OF THE PAST 50 YEARS, ACCORDING TO NEW RESEARCH
A nationwide study has identified the silliest health and wellbeing trends of modern times, with the cabbage soup diet emerging as number one, with 32 percent of the vote.
The cabbage soup diet gained popularity in the 1980s as a radical weight loss programme based on only consuming cabbage soup for seven days.
Considered a fad diet by experts as it is for short term weight loss and requires no long-term commitment, fainting and flatulence are reported to be some of its less savoury side effects.
At number two came the baby food diet (31 percent), the internet phenomenon, rumoured to have been started by celebrity trainer Tracy Anderson, to control portions and cut calories.
People on this diet replace one or two meals a day with jars of baby food, which makes it easy to control portion sizes as most dieters cannot stomach more than a couple of spoonfuls of baby food in one go.
Prancercise, the holistic fitness method, developed by Joanna Rohrback in the 1980s, which saw people prancing around like horses, came third with 30 percent.
In fourth place came twerking classes (27 percent) - the dance work out that evolved from the viral internet sensation. Fans of twerking classes say it strengthens muscles in every part of your body and you can burn 500 calories in an hour of twerk.
Raw diets (20 percent), face yoga (19 percent) and the widely discredited but still popular no-carb Atkins diet (17 percent) also made it into the top ten.
And when it came to the most hilarious fitness accessories we've dabbled in as a nation over the years, g-string leotards (27 percent), sauna suits (15 percent) and lycra cycling shorts (13 percent) made the list.
The study also explored who used to inspire Brits to get moving before Instagram workouts and #fitspiration, with Mr Motivator (35 percent), Davina McCall (28 percent) and Jane Fonda (27 percent) the most popular choices.
When it comes to the diet and fitness trends Brits have actually tried themselves, at the top of the list was using fitness trackers (17 percent), followed by Boxercise (12 percent) and running weights (10 percent).
Jamie Ward, CEO of flexible fitness network Hussle said: "This research gives a fascinating insight into the fitness trends of the past few decades. Today we live in an ever frenetic 24/7 world, with Brits now seeking for flexible and efficient fitness solutions that fit into their lifestyle. We developed Hussle with this in mind.
“We partner with 2,700 gyms, pools and spas across the UK to give flexible access to fitness facilities allowing people to easily make fitness a part of their day, not a deviation . By having the freedom and flexibility to work out whenever and wherever they like, we hope people will be inspired to keep up their fitness regime.”
The study found that, on average, Brits will give up a new fitness trend just three days in.
Regional differences exist, with persistent residents of Leicester and Cambridge enduring four days, while those based in Leeds, Norwich and Stoke-on-Trent cave in after just two days on average.
When asked if they wish there was an easier way of making fitness part of your modern, working lifestyle rather than trends, 55 percent of Brits said they definitely agreed, 31 percent said they maybe agreed - while a despondent 13 percent said no.
MOST RIDICULOUS FITNESS AND DIET FADS OF THE LAST 50 YEARS – ACCORDING TO BRITS
- Cabbage soup diet: 32 percent
- Baby food diet: 31 percent
- “Prancercise”: 30 percent
- Twerking classes: 27 percent
- G-string leotards: 27 percent
- “Laughercise”: 26 percent
- The apple cider vinegar diet: 25 percent
- Mermaid swimming classes: 20 percent
- Raw diet: 20 percent
- Face yoga: 19 percent
- The Atkins diet:17 percent
- The grapefruit diet: 17 percent
- Vitamin drips: 16 percent
- Green tea diet: 15 percent
- Juicing diets: 15 percent
- “Pramercise”: 15 percent
- Sauna suit: 15 percent
- Leg warmers: 14 percent
- Vibrating ab belts: 14 percent
- Cycle karaoke: 14 percent
- Lycra cycling shorts: 13 percent
- Punk rock aerobics: 13 percent
- Shake weight: 12 percent
- Sweatbands: 12 percent
- The 5:2 diet: 11 percent
- The Paleo diet: nine percent
- Hot yoga: nine percent
- Belly dancing: nine percent
- Jazzercise: nine percent
- Hula hooping classes: nine percent
- Pole dancing: eight percent
- Boxercise: eight percent
- Aerial yoga: eight percent
- Thigh master: seven percent
- Ab rollers: seven percent
- Running weights: seven percent
- Abdominator: six percent
- Rollerblading: six percent
- Jane Fonda workout: six percent
- Body blade: six percent