RESIDENTS are being urged to get their diet advice from the experts as part of the fourth annual Dietitians Week.

Starting on Monday, the theme of the week is ‘Evidence and Expertise’ to promote the importance of ensuring that dietary and nutrition advice comes from evidence-based, expert sources, while highlighting the risks of following fad diets.

North West Boroughs Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust and the British Dietetic Association (BDA) are encouraging residents to take note of the messages.

Dietitians from the trust will be at the new Atherleigh Park mental health hospital in Leigh all day on Tuesday for people to drop by to have an informal chat and ask any questions relating to dieting.

“We would strongly encourage anyone wanting to lose weight to make sure that any diet plan they follow is based on scientific evidence,” says Amy Wilkinson, a dietitian at the trust.

“Some of the advice people are given around fad diets is not just ineffective, it can actually be harmful to people’s health.

"With diets that are very restrictive, most people end up getting fed up and begin overeating, then pile the weight back on as a result.”

Founded in 1936, BDA is the professional association and trade union for dietitians in Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

It is the nation’s largest organisation of food and nutrition professionals, with more than 8,500 members.

Dietitians are the only legally regulated nutrition professionals in the UK.

“As dietitians we are qualified to provide diet and nutrition advice to support people to achieve their weight loss goals without putting their health at risk,” added Amy.

“We can also help people ensure that their weight loss plan is realistic and sustainable in the long-term.”

The trust’s dietitians will also be hosting a live dieting question and answer session on Twitter on Thursday.

To get involved follow the trust’s Twitter account @NWBoroughsNHS using #askadietitianNWBH.

The trust will also detail facts around some of the common myths relating to diet and diabetes, weight loss, gluten-free, irritable bowel syndrome and cancer during the week on social media.

To find out more about Dietitians Week visit dietitiansweek.co.uk or follow @DietitiansWeek on Twitter.