Crash dieting could kill, researchers claim

Those women who are about to embark on a crash diet in order to fit into their summer bikinis may want to sit up and take notice of findings published today (April 29th) by the University of Glasgow.

A study has shown that binge eating, followed by periods of crash dieting, could reduce your lifespan by as much as a quarter.

Despite the fact that the research was carried out on fish, scientists say that it could have major implications for people too.

Stickleback fish were monitored to see the effects that varying their food intake would have on their bodies.

Although all of the creatures were given the same amount of food, some went through starvation periods followed by binge periods, while others were fed normally.

The yo-yo dieting fish died an average of six months earlier than their counterparts, which startled scientists.

"It seems that uneven growth, due to the fluctuation in the amount eaten per day, is responsible for the increase in the risk of sudden death. This is possibly because body tissues are more likely to have imperfections during growth spurts," said behavioural biologist and lead researcher Professor Metcalfe.

Figures from the Office for National Statistics in 2004 suggested that only 14 per cent of men and 27 per cent of women consumed the recommended five portions of fruit and vegetables per day.